The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-08-02 00:00:00, page 3

Philadelphia, August 2.
Accounts from Albany, which may be relied on, fay,'
that the infamous captain Brant, with about two hun
dred Indians, tories, &c. having a design of furprizing
fort Schuyler, under the command of colonel Willet,
marched from Canada for that purpose; but colonel
Willet having information in time, formed an ambush
some distance from the fort, and sent a sergeant with a
few men out, who on the appearance of Brant and his
gang fred, and them ran for the fort; the enemy pur
sued in disorder, and so completely fell into the ambu
scade that they loft eighty four men on the spot, in kil
led and taken. The rest fled with the utmost preci
pitation.
On Monday last arrived here the flag brig Nancy with
thirty-one gentlemen, from Augustine, inhabitants of
Charleftown, who were captured at the fall ofthat place,
and, contrary to the capitulation, torn from their fami
lies and friends and sent to an inhospitable dime by the
humane and generous Britons, who never aft with
insolence and violate their faith, except when they have
it not in their power.
The firmnefs and perseverance with which this illus
trious band of heroes and patriots endured every species
of cruelty and indignity that British hatred could inflid,
has done honor to the cause of America, and cannot
fail of transmitting their names with the greatest ap
plause to posterity.
Extract from GENERAL ORDERS, July i 9, 1781.
T HE commander in chief is exceedingly pleased
with the condud of major-general Howe, for march
ing with so much alacrity and rapidity to the defence
of the stores at Tarry town, and repulsing the enemy
from thence. He requests general Howe, and all the
officers and soldiers of the American and French ar
mies, who were employed on the occasion, to accept
this public acknowledgment of their services.
The gallant behaviour and spirited exertions of col.
Sheldon and capt. Hurlbert, of the 2d regiment of dra
goons, capt. lieut. Miles, of the artillery, and licut.
Shaylor, of the 4th Connecticut regiment, previous to
the arrival of the troops, in extinguishing the flames
of the vessels which had been set on fire by the enemy,
and preserving the Whole of the ordnance and stores
from defiruaion, entitle them to the mod distinguish
ed notice and applause of their general.
Defeated from the Pennsylvania
or Fourth Battalion of Artillery, Rationed at Lancas
ter—Mattresses : JOHN JACOBS, 24 years of age, §
feet 7 inch s ano a quarter high, fair complexion, a
labourer, born in Germany.
JOHN CODNF, 2% years of age, 5 feet, 9 inches
and a halt high, fair complexion, by trade a (hoe
maker, b< rn in Philadelphia.
JOHN HENRIGHT, 23 years of age, 5 feet 7 inches
high, black hair, iwarthy complexion, by trade a Hay
maker, horn in England.
WILLIAM DYER, 24. years of age, 5 feet 9 inch
es high, swarthy complexion, a labourer, bern in Ire
land.
BENJAMIN SADLER, 5 feet 4 inches high, 30
years or age, black hair, fair complexion, a gardener,
born in England.
MICHAEL PITT, 19 years of age, 5 feet 9 inches
high, fair complexion, a labourer, born in Ccnoftoga,
L-ncafter county: the left four lately entitled by the
cliff's. Likewile—
JAMES PAMELY, rcattrofs in the above bstta' : on,
deferred from the fotthern aimy, 25 years of age, 5
feet 7 inch's and a half high, fair complexion, light
hair, by trade a g'afs-blower, born in England
Whoever secures the above Deserters, and gives in
formation to the command ng officer at Lancaster, cr
captain PORTER at Philadelphia, (had receive
TWENTY SHILLINGS for each, as a Reward.
JOHN BRYCE, Cpta n,
Commanding Pennsylvania Artillery, Lantaftcr.
FOR S A L E;
The Hull and Spars of the Brig
AMITY, as the new Uys in Choptank river, burthen
about 2co torts, and pierced for 20 gars, with 2 fluth
deck and snug round house, well calculated fir failing
or fighting. For Termsapply to Captain EDWARD
NOEL, upon Choptank river, Eafternlhoie, Mary
land.
B A LT I MO R E, July 24.
Captain Walker, of the letter of marque ship Gen.
Washington, ( lately taken and carried into New-York,
by his Britannic majefly's ship Chatham, of 50 guns )
and the chief part of his men, have been sent prisoners
to England.
The British, it is reported, have evacuated and de
flroyed their fortifications at Ninety Six. The gar
rison, it is affected, now make part of a marching ar
my under lord Rawdon's command.
A detachment of the marquis de la Fayette's army
have crossed James-River, at or near Richmond, with
a view, it is said, of intercepting a party of British troops,
laid to be on their march to Bedford county Virginia.
The Baltimore troop of light dragoons, we hear, make
part of the detachment above mentioned.
By late accounts, lord Cornwallis and his army were
lying, inactive, at " Sleepy Hole," o» Nanfemond, a
branch of James-River, between Suffolk and Ports
mouth.
neral Clinton to push it with vigour. It was intended
to fend a number o' troops to the head of your bay to
a& againtt Maryland and Pennsylvania ; and establish
a place of fecutity for the reception of the loyal fubjeas
in those states. The reverse of fortune to the south
ward hath probably delayed the execution of this plan,
and I hope the event of the operations there, and e!fe
where, will oblige the enemy totally to abandon it.
It appears from Germaine's letters, that they intend
ed to fix a permanent poll at Elizabeth river. These
letters come down to the 7th of March.
IT would be the extreme of vanity in us not to be fenfi
ble,that we began this revolution with very vague and
confined notions of the praHiCal business of government.
To the greater part of us it was'a novelty : Of those,
who under the former con flitution had had opportuni
ties of acquiring experience, a large proportion adher
ed to the opposite fide, and the remainder cm only be
fiippofed to have possessed ideas adapted to the narrow
colonial sphere; in which they had been 4 accu domed to
move, not of that enlarged kind f^ited to the govern
ment of an INDEPENDENT NATION.
There were no doubt exceptions to these observations
^men in all refpefts qualified for conducting the pub
lic affairs, with (kill and advantage ; but their number
was fmal'l- 1 -they were not always brought forward in
our councils; and when they were, their influence was
too commonly borne down by the prevailing torrent
of ignorance and prejudice.
On a retrospect, however, of our tranfa&ions, un
det the disadvantages with which we commenced, it is
perhaps more to be wondered at, that 'we have done so
well, than that We have not done better. There are
indeed some traits in our conduH, a&conspicuous for
found policy, as others for magnanimity. But, on
the other handy it mud also be cohfeffed, there have
been many falfe steps; many chimerical projects and
utopian Speculations^ in the management of our civil
as well as of our military affairs. A part of these
were the natural effects of the spirit of the times, dic
tated by our situation. An extreme jealousy of power
is the attendant on all popular revolutions, and has
seldom been without its evils. It is to this source we
are to trace many of the fatal miffakes, which have
so deeply endangered the Common cause; particularly
that defed, which will be the objeß of these remarks,
A WANT OF POWER IN CONGRESS.
The present Congress, refpedable for abilities and
integrity, by experience convinced of the necessity of
a change, are preparing several important articles to
be submitted to the refpeaive dates, for augment
ing the powers of the confederation. But though
there is hardly at this time a man of information in
America, who will not acknowledge, as a general pro
portion, that in its present form, it is unequal, either
to a vigorous prosecution of thd war, or to the preser
vation of the union in peace; yet when the principle
comes to be applied so pradice, there seems not to be
the fame agreement in the modes of remedying the de
fect ; and it is to be feared, from a disposition which
appeared in some of the dates on a late occasion, that
the salutary intentions of Congress may meet with
more delay and oppofitibn, than the critical posture of
the dates will jufhfy.
It will be attempted to /hew in 'a course of papers
what ought to be done, and the mifehiefs of a contrary
policy.
In the fird flages of the con troverfy it was excufeable
to err. Cood intentions rather than great skill, were
to have been expelled from us. But we have now had
fufficient time for refleaion and experience, as ample
as unfortunate, to redify our errors. To persist in
them becomes difgraceful and even criminal, and be
lies that character of good sense and a quick discern
ment of our intered, which, in spite of our midakes,
we hitherto been allowed. It will prove, that out saga
city is limited to intereds of inferior moment ; and that
we are incapable of those enlightened and liberal views,
necessary to make us a great and a dourifhing people.
Hidory is full of examples, where in contests for li
berty,a jealousy of power has either defeated the at empts
to recover or preserve it in the firft indance, or has
afterwards subverted it by clogging government with
too great precautions for its security, or by leaving too
wide a door for sedition and popular licencioufnefs.
In a government framed for durable liberty, not less
regard mud be paid to giving the magidra'e a proper
degree of authority, to make and execute the laws
with vigour, than to guarding against encroachments
upon the rights of the community. As too much
power leads to despotism, too little leads to anarchy.,
and both eventually to the ruin of the people. These
are maxims well known, but never Sufficiently attend
ed to, inadjudin? the frames of governments. Some
momentary interet lor padion is sure to give a wrong
biafs, and pervert the mod favourable opportunities.
No friend to order or to rational liberty, can read
without pain and disgust the hidory of the common
wealth of Greece. Generally speaking, they were a
condaht feene of the alternate tyranny of one part of
the people over the other, or of a few usurping dema
gogues over the whole. Mod of them had been origi
nally governed by kings, whose despotism (the natural
'difeafe of monarchy) had obliged their fubjeas to mur
der, expell, depose, or reduce them to a nominalex
iftence, and institute popular governments. In these
governments, that of Sparta excepted, the jealousy of
power hindered the people from trufling out of their
own hands a competent authority, to maintain the re
pose and dabdity of the commonwealth ; whence ori
ginated the frequent revolutions and civil broils with
which they were didrafted This, and the want of
a solid fcederal union to redrain the ambition and ri
valfhip of the different cities, after a rapid succession
of bloody wars, ended in their total loss of liberty and
subjugation to foreign powers.
In a comparison of our governments with those of
theancient republics, we mud, without hesitation, give
the preference to ourown ; because, every power with
us is exercised by representation, not in tumultuary
assemblies of t|ie colleftive body of the people, where
the art or impudence of the orator or tribute, rather
To the Printer of the Pennsylvania Packets
S I R,
I fend you the firft number of a series of papers which'
I intend to publish on matters of the greatest impor
tance to these dates; I hope they will be read with
as much candour and attention asthe objeds of then
deserve, and that no conclufioiis will be drawn till
these are fully developed. fam, fir,
Your mod obedient humble servant;
A. B.
The C ONTI NEN T A LI3 T.
N d# I.
Philadelphia, July 3 ift, 1781.
Whereas Complaint has been
made to the Cemmffioners < f the city and county of
Philadelphia by the Collectors of Mulberry ward, that
they cannot obtain the taxes now due (amounting to
eight hundred and ninety, five pounds) on a large lot
or piece of ground firuate between Fifth and Sixth streets,
and extending from Mulberry to Cherry ftreeb
said to be the property of the name of Calender, refid
mg in the island of Birbadees,
Notice is hereby given, That unless the owner or
owners of the above-mentioned eflate, their attorneies
or agents, difebarge and pay the taxes now due there
on, on or before the firft day of November next endu
ing, the whole, or so much of the said estate will then
be told, ^ will fatirfy the refpeaive taxes and all ne
ceff:ry cxpences.
JOHN BROOKE, )
PRESLEY BLAKISTON,)Comm;
GUNNING BEDFORD, )
Furnished Rooms
TO BE LE T,
With the Ute of a Kitchen. For particulars enauird
of the Printer.•
Just Imported from Europe, and to be Sold, by
Safportas & Le B<euf,
At their Store, in F^ont ffreet, opposite to the Coffees
Honfe,alarge Assortment of DRY GOODS
Corfifting of—
DROADCLOTHS, Wiltons, Bath Coat
ing, white Flannel, Kufy, Serge Denims; Shal
loons, Duroys, Durants, wi ire and buff coloured Mar
seilles Quilting ; plain, corded 2nd figured Demities
pl.in and spotted Jeans; yard wide, 7.8 and 3-4 Eng
h(h Checks, a large Aftortment of printed linen Hand
kerchiefs, Scotch H^nkerchiefs, Barcelona Handker
chiefs of several Colours, fedia Nankeens, a large As
sortment of white and black figured end plain Gauze,
gauze Handkerchiefs, co?rfe and fine Ca gut, black
and white blond Lace, silk Gloves and Mittens, ivory
and cocoa mounted Fans; Irish, Dutch and German.
Linens, Peering Linens, Brittanias, Calicoes, Hum
hums, jaconet and bock Muft.ns; white; black and
cloud-d Manturs, S^a, fuckers, Scotch Threads, faylort
Threads, a Lrge A ffortment of broad and harrow Rib
bands, broad and narrow white Tapes, white and black
Pni, Need's, white and I lack Fnglifh beaver Hats,
gold and 6lver thread coat 2nd jacket butters; sewing
Si ks of different colours, fcle<on wire, Souchong
Tea in earners, Bohea Tea.in chests, Englilh Safi
Duck from No. 4 to 8, a large Affoitmeni of artificial
Flowers, and several other Articles rco tedious to enu
m^te.
N. B. They also have a Qiantity of Sugar in hog
fhe?ds and bareh, Taffia, Cocoa in bag, : which they
will Sell reTon^biy. June 19.
New Providence, July 20 , 1781.
A LL persons who have any just demands
41 against the Estate of James Sands, of thetown
-111 pof New-Providence in the county cf Philadelphia
aeceafed, ate here'y requrftei to bring in their ac
counts to MARY SANDS, properly pr e ved, in order
for kttlemeni; and those perfens Wto are indebted to
said elNie, either by bond, note, he ok debt, or other
wise, are requeued to difeharge the fame, on cr before
Ift day of September next. Delinquents may expe&
tieir a:comm win be put into the hands of an attorney
immediately after faidcUt*. Marv Sands, Executrix
than the utility or justice of the meafure,could felddni
fail to govern. Yet whatever may be the advantage
on our fide, in such a comparison, men who estimate
the value of institutions, not from prejudices of the
moment, but from experience and season, must be per
suaded, that the fame jealousy of power has prevent
ed our reaping all the advantages, from the examples
of other nations, which we ought to have done, and
has rendered our constitutions in many refpe&s feeble
and imperfect.
Perhaps the evil is not very great in refpe& to
our particular conflitutions; for notwithstanding
their imperfeaions, they may, for some time, be made
to operate in such a manner, as to answer the purpo
ses of the common defence and the maintenance of or
der; and they seem to have, in themselves, and in
the pfogrefs of society among us, the feeds of improve
ment.
But this is not the case with fefpea to the foederag
government ; - -if it is too weak at firft, it will continu
ally grow weaker. The ambition and local interests of
the refpeaive members, will be constantly undermi
ning and ufufping upon its prerogatives, till it comes
to a dissolution ; if a partial combination of some of
the more powerful ones does not bring it to a more
speedy and violent end.-
©@&®^@@&!M)@®^^^©^
EXTRACT frem the Orders of the Honourable Board
of War.
" "^ HE Town Mejor is to muffer, every two week#,
£ all troops, artificers, and prisoners of war,
and all prfons in the ft;ff department, claiming rati
ons and return to the Board their numbers and de
fc Options."
That the above order may be carried into execution;
it is requeued, that officers commanding troops, arti
ficers, and different departments in the ftaff, and those
who have the Care Or charge of prisoners of war, have
their Mutter rolls prepared by Saturday the 4th of
Au^uft next. MW. M'CONNELL, Town-Major.
Philadelphia, July 30, 1781.