Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1777-02-04 00:00:00, page 2

Translation of a Lefler Written by a Former, o?^
bis travels.
Dear Count, London, Dec. „ 1776.
]H AVE now been fix months in England, and eight
woks of rhe time in or near this metropolis. You
fho'ld have heard from me before, but my frequent ex
cursions and continual avocations, as well as the want of
a proper opportunity, prevented. Agreeable to my
promise, however, I now fit do^n to give you fame ac
count of the character and politics of this strange people#
So copious a fubje& cannot be difeuffed in one letter,
but you ihall hear from me again when further observa
tion hath enabled me to be more particular.
,Thrgeneral chara&er of the English is certainly the
most absurd and fartaftic that ever fell to the lot of hu
man nature. As they are made up of contradictions .it
would be unjust to describe them by any uniform de
signation. There is f&rce a virtue that adorns the mind
or a vice that disgraces mankind but may be aferibed to
thex as a nation: But the former are often rendered in
effectual by misapplication, and the latter qualified by a
levity of manners that shews them not to be constitution
al. An Englishman will treat his enemy with grtttge
nerofity, and his friend with ingratitude and inhumanity.
He will be lavish of his wealth, when he has but little ;
and become a miserly wretch, when Fortune pours her
riches into his purse. He will brave the utmost hard
ships and fuffir the fevered trials of life with heroic pa
tience ; and will drown himfelf because the wind is in
the Ealt. Be will lend large furris to a Granger on the
fl ; ghteft security ; and will go to law with his nearest re
hti>n to wrong him out of his estate. To-day his heart
expands with Social benevolence; to morrow.he is cold,
fallen anffreferved. To day he poflifes the wealth of a
Nabob; to-morrow he refutes a groat to a beggar.—ln
ibort, contradiction and absurdity make an Englfhman.
During the last centu y, this people hive risen to 2
great height of wealth /and power ; but the inflability of
their temper will not fuffer them to enjoy ar.y blehing in
possession. At pe^ce with all the world , feared and re
ipeaed by their neighbor $ ; duly enjoying the benefits
of an cxtmfr/e and uninterrupted commerce; an eftab
-5 shed policy and a reformed religion, are circumftauce^
fefficient, one would suppose, to render any people hap
py and content. But the third cf lawless ambition can
.never be fatisfied.= The Eiglfh assume to themselves the
crtara&er of being the mott jtf, generous and humane na
tion in the world: And yet they carry on the African
trade-, a trade attended with circurhftances of cruelty and
Terror that are a disgrace to human nature; whereby
they fallen, for life, the chains of nailery and servitude
In some hundreds of their fellow creatures every year.
They alto sent one Clive over to the Kart-Indies to eftib
b(h a dominion there. A country which the Creator ne
ver designed mould belong to the English, as is evident
from hs having placed it on the opposite fide of the
g ! obe, and made the inhabitants of a different complexi
on. This Clive, however, arrived with his forces in the
F -ft Indies ; and, under fan&ion of his most gracious M\-
j-rty and zJree Parliament, put to death some hundred
thousands of the inhabitants by the sword, by famine and
by the most attrocions cruelties—and lo return'd to Eng
land with immense riches and a wife set in diamonds,
and was made a Lord ; and then with great deliberation
he cut his throat with a pen knife,'to the fitisfa&ion of
To be as grod 05 his word, he hath sent over not only
his own fl lets and armies, but hired a banditti of foreign
mercenaries from a petty Prince, who maintains himfelf
and fam ly by the merchandize ofhu nan blood, and has
also employed Negroes anl wild Indians to persecute the
poor Americans without mercy until they (ball own that
two and two make five.
America is now a (cene of desolation and distress. A
theatre whereon is a&ed a real tragedy enriched with
every species of cruelty and injustice. The royal army
are ravishing the women, murdering the men, and lay
ing wale that beautiful country under the conduct of
Lord and General Howe, who are cajoling some and ru
ining others ofthefe inoffenfive peopie, with all the com
posure in the world. His most gracious Majesty receives
from time to time fuah accounts of their proceedings as
they please to give him, and is as happy as such aMo
narch can be. Who could hove thought that so exten
sive a country would be ravaged and plundered because
the foolifh inhabitants will not own that two and two
the whole Court.— Yob will be fur,ri fed at this : But the
people here are not surprised at all. It is no unusual thing
to spend an evening with a great man in all the easy
gaity of facial life, and to hear next morning that he had
hanged himfelfin a stable, nr pra&ried phlebotomy with
a razor on his own jugular vein. Toe English now go
vern in the Fart-Indies with a supremacy of power, and
A tyranny so pure and unallayed with any mixture of juf
lice or humanity; as could not have been exceeded in the
reigns of the twelve Ceefays.
Th ; s exploit being accomplished to the glory of God
and honour of the nation ; thfjuf, generous and humane
King turned his attention to America. There he had
three millions of subj cfs who lov'd, honour'd and obey'd
him. He governed them by men of his ovn nominari
dn ; he had the whole regulation of their commerce, and
the overflowings of their wealth were conducted by easy
zhd natural channels to his coffers and to the purses oft*e
Penchants and manufa&orers of his kingdom. But he
has quarelled with this people, because they are so stupid
that they cannot underftind, or so obstinate that they will
not acknowledge that two and taco make five. Volumes
have been written on this fubje&, and all the force of
reason and eloquence exerted to convince this wife King
that he is in an error. The Americans have most em
phatically befeeched him to accept of the undilguild
royalty of their hearts, declaring that they are fatisfied
that the fruits of their industry should, as heretofore,
center with him and his people to fenrich and aggrandize
them ; but humbly request that they mav not be com
pel! d to acknowledge that two and two make five, which
woifd be a most diftreffmg violation of truth ; as they
know and are fully convinced that they make only four,
• B it this humane Monarch is far from giving up the
point. He has rejected their petitions with scorn, and
fourned at their offers of affeaion and fidelity. He de
clares he will even rifque the crown of bis ancestors but
he will m ke the obftmate Americans own this new doc
tri^.
malefive, when their grod King and his wife Parliament
defirc them to do so ? Eftecially when the cons quince
of so doing can be only the utter ruin a themieives arid
.their posterity forever.
But this is not all. The Americans, highly resenting
this treatment, have declared before Gad and the world
that they will be no longer pensioners of the smiles or
frowns of such a King, or dependant on the justice or
humanitref a Sovereign who pays no regard to either;
but that they are determined to be henceforth a free peo
ple, ffnd will enjoy the inestimable privilege of believing
and fading that two and two make only four, agreeable
tq the common sense of mankind. How this affair will
terminated a matter of feme uncertainty. But the chance
is tento one that George the Third will lose the most glo
rious jewel of his crown, if not the crown itfelf, for this
ridiculous whim, this ignis fatuus in polities
You will fay, the King cou d not a& upon such ab
surd principles, were he not countenanced and support
ed in bis folly by the co-incident folly of his people. —=
True—But the folly of the people is of a different nature
from that of the King. The people fee plainly with the
Americans, that two and two can never make five, and
yet they support his Majifty's dogma with might and
main. The truth is, they have oy degrees resigned so
much power into the King's hands that they dare not
now contradict any thing he shall please to assert. And
if his power should be further encreafed by the fubje&ion
of America to his difpQfal, the ruined people ofErgtand
may bid adieu to their constitution lor ever. Some of
the vrifeft amobgrt them fee this, and have declared that
the'falvafion of England depends on the success of the
Americans in the pTfent war. This infatuated people
have tired the world for these hundred years with loud
etilogiums on liberty and their conftbution, and yet they
daily fee that very constitution langmfliing in a deep
corifumpri m without any efforts for it's recovery. In
stead of enjoying a frame of government beautiful in her
proportions and glowing with health and vigour, they
are content to embrace a rotten prostitute full of wounds
andhrttifes and putrifying fores. Amused with trifles,
and long accurtomed to venality and corruption, they aie
not ala med atthe dreadful confequence^. They love to
talk of their beloved constitution because the idea is a-
I greeableg and they honour their King bee iufe it is the
I faffiion. They worship the shadow of Liberty with an
lidolatrous1 idolatrous adoration, negle&ing the fubrtance as a thing
1 of no value. Half the loyalty of the nation is supported
by two popular fangs, vz. God save the King, and Bri
tons frike home. These are vociferated at taverns, over
porte r , punch and wine, till the imagination is heated
and the blood in a ferment, and "hen the worthy patriots
rt d % g 'rfo th and commit all manner of riots and excels
in hortaur of their King and country. There are fana
tics in polit cs as well as religion, and persecution is the
consequence in both, when men refufe to attend to the
cool dictates of common sense. The men in power know
this weakness of the multitude; and whenever they find
them grow uneasy under their encroachments, they get
half a dozen court scribblers to expatiate on the bleffiags
of the British constitution, and sing the sweet lullaby of
Liberty to the people to keep them quiet. Just as a nurse
rattles three pieces of tn in a little,ufh basket to amuse
her cryingchild : The poor infant thinks it has the world
in possession, and is fatisfi^d.
The English are not a people of an inventive genius.
Most of their able men are natives of other countri s. The
Scotch far exceed them in li erasure; and, in the arts,
France and other nations invent for thepa, and they im
prove upon their inventions. F^w ufetyl arts owe their
origin to native Engl sh. The Quadrant, called Hadley's
Quadrant, was nnd^ 11 itedly the contrivance of an Ame
rican, (ho' Hadley affamed the reputation of that ditco
very. They werein high luck when a Shakefpear and a
Newton happened to be born amongst them. The whole
nation rest their credit upon these two men.
Ebe extreme ignorance of the common people of this
civilized and polifoed country is scarcely to be credited.
They know nothing but the particular branch of business
to which their parents or the parish happened to put them
apprentice. They are compelled to p r a&ice that with un
remitring diligence, and beyond that they feidom extend
their ideas. A manufacturer has been brought up a
maker of pin-heads. He has been at it forty years, and
of course he makes them with great dexterity; bus he
cannotimake a whole pin for his life. He thinks it is the
perfection of human nature to make pin-heads. He leaves
other matters to inferior abilities. It is enough for him
that he believes in the Athanafian Creed, reverences the
splendor of the Court, and makes pin heads. This he
eftrems the sum total of religion, politics and tr^de. He
is fare that London is the fineft city in the world ; Black
Friars the most magnificent of all possible bridges, and
the river Thames the largest river in the univerte.—lt is
in vain to tell him that there are many rivers in America
in comparison of which the Thames is but a ditch ; that
there are single provinces there larger than all England,
and that the colonies formerly belonging to Gicat-Bri
tain, now Independent States, are vastly more extenfice
than England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland taken to
gether. He cannot conceive this. Hegoeq into his best
parlour and looks at a map of England five feet square;
011 the other fide of the room he fees a map of North and
South-America not four feet square, and cries, How can
this be ?It is altogether impossible ! —He has read the Ara
bian Nights Entertainment, and he hears this wonderful
account of America. He believes the one as much as the
other. That a gifot should fife out of the sea, or that
the Delaware fnovl I be a larger river than the Thames,
are equally inconceivable to him. Talk to him of the
British Constitution, he will tell you it is a glorious one;
he adores it. Ask him what it is, and he does not know
, even its fir ft principles. Mention the freedom of elec
tions, and he will tell you he has no business with these
matters —that he lives in a borough, and that it is im
poffiule but that 'Squire Goofecap must represent that bo
rough in Parliament; for his lady comes every Sunday to
the parish church in a dam fk gown, a*id sis in a pew
lined with green clotn—how then can it be otherwise ?—
Besides, 'Squire Goofecap is acquainted with the Prime
Mimfter. These are things he is no ways concerned in.
He believes in the Athanafian Creed, isaftonifhed at the
Splendor of the Court, and makes pin-heads—and what
more can be exp &ed of man ?
It is c/ute ,otherwise in America. The lowest of the
Provided nevertheless, and he it further enacted ly tie
authority aforefaid, Tnat after any (uch tender, as afore
faid, being made, if the creditor to whom such money is
tendered, shall within four days next thereafter, make
demand of the said debt before two creditable wirneffes,
it shall and may be lawful for such creditor to sue for and
recover such debt ; but shall recover no interest on said
debt after such tender, or cofis oh his a&ion.
And be it farther enabled by the authority aforefaid. That
where any such tender (hall, as aforefaid, be inade, in
order to pay any debt or demand of money due and pay
able of any kind whatsoever, and rtfufed and not de
manded within four days after such tender, as aforefaid,
then, and in such case, the said debt or money due, or
payable, mentioned in any mortgage, bond, specialty,
bill, or note, book account, or any other debt whatsoe
ver, is hereby declared to be forfeited,, the one third
part thereof to the debtor, and the other two third parts
to this State ; and every such debtor who fl)fl make such
tender is hereby di,e&ed and required to pay the two
third parts of every debt so forfeited, into the hands of
the Treasurer of the county appointed to receive the
State Tax, (whole receipt fhal j be a Efficient discharge
to such debtor for the monies by this a& forfeited,) re
taining the one third part in his, her, or their own
hands.
And whereas divers peTfons in this State (taking ad
vantage of the nectflitous) when they put money on
loan, or in other contract, have bargained with, and
bound the borrower, or purchaser, to pay the debt in
fterhng money pf Great-Britain, according as tae e^-
prep'e there are rot without ft foe degree of general
knowledge. They turn their hands to every thing.
Their filiation obliges them to do so. A farmer cannot
run to an artist upon every trifling occasion. He mpfl
make arc mend and contrive for him elf. This I oh
furred in my travels thro' that country. In many tewns
and in every city they have public libraries. NotaShoe
maker or a taylor but will find time thread. I-le acquires
knowledge imperceptibly, and gets a love for books. —
He reads voyages and travels, and becomes acquainted
with the geography, chrtoms and characters of other
countries. He studies the firft principles of government,
he knows the great outlines of his rights as a free man,
as a citizen, and is proud of the character; not as an
empty name, bpt for its fbbftantial benefits. He amutes
himfelf a little with astronomy, and knows that the appa
rent motion of the Sun is occafiohed by the red motion
of the . Earth. Tn foort, heknqws that, note ithflanding
the determination of King, Lords and Commons to The
contrary, two and two can weaHr make five
Such are the people of England and such the people of
America. They are now at daggers drawn. At firft
the Americans knew little or nothing of warfare; but
they improve drily. The Britifu troop# are teaching
them the art of conquest; and they find them very sot.
fchalars. The probable confeqnence is that England w/1
lose and America gain an empire. Jf George lij. (houfd
subjugate America on his present principles, all good mm
will abhor him as a tyrant ; it he should not, all the world
will laugh at and despise him for throwing away theim
menfe advantages he enjoyed in a f iendly cbnne&ion
with that country, becabfe the inhabitants will not ac
knowledge that two and two make file, agreeable to his
royal will and pleasure.
' But it is time to conclude this long letter, left I should
tire your patience and my own. For theprefent, there
fore, adieu, and believe me to be as much as ev^r,
lours, &c. &c. &c.
ssss,sg#4* * ±~# 4,0050 00$0
PH XLADELPHI A, -February + .
An Ac? for making the Continental Bills of Credit, and the
Bills of Credit emitted by Rejoices of the late AJfcmhiies, le
gal tender, and for other purposes therein mtAtSGned,
WHERE AS it is highly needfiry that tie Bills
of Credit emitted and made current by the Con
tinental Congress, and the bills of credit emitted and
m # ds current by the late ATmblies of Pennsylvania,
ought to be made legal tender m all payments, and to
be alike takeh by every perlon in this State in the dis
charge of debts, and for rhe purch%fing the neceffarieg
of life, and materials of defence ; and it is evidently ne
eeflary that the counterfeiting of the laid bills of c edit
made current by public authority should be prevented.
Be it therefore enafled, ^hd it is hereby enabled by the
Representatives of the freemen of the Common-Wealth
of Pennsylvania in General Aff/mblj met, and by the
authority of the fame, that, from and after the sixth day
of February next, the oids of credit emitted and made
current by the Continental Congress (ball pals current
in this State, and be received in payments arid diltharge
ofall manner of debts, rents, sum and films of money
whatsoever, due, or hereafter to become due, payable,
or accruing upon, or by reason of any mortgage, bond,
specialty, bills, note, book account, promise, assump
tion, or any other contiaa whatsoever, according to
the sum which the said bills refpe&ively, entitles' the
bearer thereof to receive, each dollar the rein expressed to
be taken and esteemed at the rate, or value of seven (hil
lings and fix pence, and of equal value in the payment
of such debts with a Spanish mill'd tilver dollar, weigh
ing seventeen penny weight and fix grains, any elaufe,
proviso, or device, in any bond, note, or. other intern
ment of writing, to the contrary thereof, in any wife
notwithstanding.
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid. That
the bills of credit emitted and made current by the re
solves ofthe hte Assemblies of Pennsylvania, and the
bills of credit emitted on loan by an aft of Aflembly of
the 26th of February, 1773, faall, in like manner, be,
and is hereby declared to De a legal tender, and (hall be
taken and received in payment and discharge of all man
ner of debts whatsoever, as aforefaid, according to the
sum fpecified in laid bills, and if any person or persons,
from and after the said sixth day of February next, (hall
refufe to receive any of the said bills of credit when pro
perly tendered in payment of any debt, or demand
whatsoever, provided the whole of such debt or demand
be tendered, he, die or they so refufiag, shall be forever
barred from suing for, or recovering the fame in any
Court of this State, and if any suit or suits, fliall be com
menced for fuel )debt or demand, after tender and refu
fal as aforefaid, the defendant may plead payment, and
give this a& and the special matter in evidence.