The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-12-04 00:00:00, page 1

To be SOLDat Public Sale,
At the Coffee house in Philadelphia, on TUESDAY,
the fourth dhy of December next, at five o'clock in
the evening ;(if not before disposed of by private file.)
A valuable plantation situated
so London Britain township, Chester county, near the
plantation where the honourable John Evans, efq; re
fdei, containing upward# of 220 acre#, near one half
whereof is wel timbered woodland, the remainder clear
ed and under good fence; upwards of 12 acres excellent
meadow, watered by a never failing stream running
through the land, which will admit the making of more
meadow at a small expence. There are two log tene
ments, barn and stabling on the premises. The situati
on is convenient for bringing the produce to market,
being about to mile# from Chriffiana-bridge, ta mile#
from Newport, and 16 mile# from Wilmington, and in
the neighbourhood of several good grift.mills. The
prefect tenant John Hahn will ffiew the premises to any
perfan applying to him.
Also, 12 1-2 acres of excellent upland, lately cleared
and under good new cedar post and rail fence, situated
above three miles and an half from Philadelphia, on the
xoad leading to George Gray's Ferry, adjoining the
land of Samuel Rhoads, elq.
If any person is desirous of purchsfing by private
Tale before the day above appointed, the owner will take
Specie, state money, merchandize or country produce
fin payment, and the firlt mentioned pttmife# will be
fold with or without a contiderable stock.
For farther particulars enquire of LEONARD DOR
SEY or of CHRISTOPHER BAKER, at the corner
®f Vine and Second-ftreata.
A Further SALE of the
Public Lots of this City,
For the redemption of the Bills of Credit
es thii state, dated April the tgtb, 1780, will be held
^t the Coffee-houfe, on THURSDAY, the 6th of De
cember ioftant, atTRN o'clock in the forenoon. A
Plan of the Lots may be fan at the Coffee-houfe, and
at the Surveyor, General's Office. The conditions the
tfame as the last fal##.
Having compleated the Sales of
the brigantine Freeland and Cargo, taken by the let
ter 6f marque brigantine Two Eithers; and cf the
Stores taken out of the /hip Savage, by the privateer
4hip Con&refs ; condemn'd in the court of admiralty
lor this rate: All persona who have demand# on said
,prizes, for charge?, or who are authorised or entitled
#0 receive (hares thereof, are desired to make their
claims at my office, within three dayt from the date
Thereof. CLEMENT MIDDLE, Marshal.
Philadelphia, Nov. 30, 1781.
Philadelphia, November 26, 1781.
BY virtue of a Writ of Venditioni Ex
ponas to me directed, will be Sold by Public
Vendee, at the Coffee. Houle, on TUESDAY the 4th
^ay of December next, at Four o'clock in the After
moon, A certain Brick MESSUAGE, TENEMENT,
and Piece of GROUND, with Several Back-buildings,
Situate on the feuth fide of Walnut-street, between
Third and Fourth-ftreete, from the river Delaware, in
We City of Philadelphia; containing in breadth, on
*Walnut-ftreet, aforefaid, 16 feet 6 inches, and in
length or depth 108 feet, fubj,a to a Ground-relit of
fourteen Spanish, coined. Silver Pieces of Eight.
Also, another I'ISSUAGE and Lot or Piece of
GROUND, adjoining th# aforafaid Let, containing in
Breadth, on the South fide of Walnut threat, 14, feet
, inches, and in length or depth aao feet , taken in Ex
ecution, at the property of Harry Gordon, by
WILLIAM WILL, Sheriff.
Loft, on the 20th Instant,
November, near Walnut-street Dock, a
Gold-headed CANE, with T. P. in Cy
pher on the Head. The Value of the
Cane will be paid on delivering it to the
Printer hereof.
A Coachman is wanted to hire
er purchase ; nene need apply but such a# can procure a
recemm Nation adequate to the undertaking. Enquire
of the Punter.
TUESDAY,]'bE C E M ^ ER 4, ft
THE'
O R, THE
GENERAL ADVERTISER.
VOL. Xl.l
Published every TUESDAY, THURSDAY and SATURDAY.—Price Six-Pence.
EXTRACT from the M'nutes of the Honourable the
General Assembly of Pennsylvania.
SATURDAY, November 10, 1781.
The following petition, endorsed, signed by 1566
inhabitants and freemen of the county of Philadel
phia, was presented to the House and read : viz-
To the honourable the representatives bf the freemen
of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in general
assembly met.
The fu bferibers, inhabitants and freemen of the coun
ty of Philadelphia, in all humble manner com
plaining, beg leave to represent and Ihew,
THAT, the more effectually to secure the liberty
of the subj-st, and the freedom of elections, from
all other restraints than those imposed by
wholesome and well regulated lates b the bill of rights,
and the cohflitution of this commonwealth expressly
provide, that " all elections ffiall be bfc ballot, free and
voluntary." That under this palladium of our rights,
erected in support of our mon invaluable privileges,
we firmly hoped, that the freedom of elisions was fafe
ly guarded against those Breaches of tyranny and cor
ruption, which had nearly inflaved both Great Britain
and America.
That, notwithstanding this confidence, we are greatly
alarmed at some late measures, planned with all the
regularity of fyfiem ; and pursued with equal art and
industry, to destroy this freedom and security; and
which, if not opposed in their infancy with that spirit
and manly firmnefs which is worthy of freemen, will
with a rapid progress undermine and sap the liberties
of the good people cf this Gate. These measures, so
flagrant in their nature, as to havb spread a general
alarm, and awakened jealoufles in every patriotic breast
we must claim the privilege of representing to this ho
nourable house, and of praying immediate redress a
gainst the pressing injuries which we>complain bf.—
When the militia of a part bf the Bate were lately col
lefted at Newtown, in the cotint, of Bucks, by the
orders of their commander in chief; and were detained
there, ata great expence, from their families and im
pot-tent concerns, until the approach of the general
eleaion,a private meeting was held there, between cer
tain perfon#, to which the body of the militia, though
to be deeply affeded thereby, were not deemed worthy
of admittance.
At this private m^efing^ plan was concerted, fraught
with the most dangerous corifequences, drawn up by
a gentleman of legal knowledge, and executed with all
the formalities of a solemn contrast
Its object was, to obtain th A votes bf the militia in
favour bf a particular ticket, by deftroymg the free
dom of elections. This being agreed on, and the con
trasting parties bound by folbrnn covenants jn writing;
to carry it into,execution; general Lacey, who com
manded at that flation; issued his orders on the seventh
of Oftober, difeding " That the soldiery {liquid march,
" under the commahd of theit officers, to the places of
'' holding elections ; recommending to the officers to
" pay the most particular attention to the conduct of
" the men on their march, ordering that they should
" expressly observe to thefo, that they were Bill under
*' the military law; as much so a# when they were in
" camp, and that their behaviour muff be conformable
" thereunto." He farther ordered, " That after the
“ men should have severally voted, and not before, the
" commanding officers should grant them permiffori te
“ return to their farms, where they would have permif
" fion to remain until the Saturday night following ,'
adding that, " He expected they would pay the most
" implicit obedience to orders, add that no man would
" presume to leave his c mpauv without permission of
" his commanding officer." These orders, we cannot
help observing, are of the most dan; erous ^nd alarm
ing nature. They were issued by a military officer
high in command, to men upon military duty unde
bis authority. They are evidently calculated to pre
scribe, under colour of military law, and the obedience
due to military orders, a rule of conduct to be observ
ed in an important tranfa&ion of civil life. And in or
der to enforce the most implicit obedience by freemen,
to the will of those who wished to govern the election of
freemen, the men were declared to be still under military
law, as much so as when in camp. The most implicit obe
dience to orders w^s expr^ly enjoined, aid freemen
were forbid, under authority of martial law, td pre
sume leaving their companies without permission, until
they should have voted. This precaution could not
have been used to prevent desertion; because, after vot
ing, and not before, reputable inhabitants were to be
permitted to visit their families. The orders were ex
pressly to compel every man to vote, er else not be at
liberty to fee their wives and children, although by law
and the constitution every man had a right to refufe
voting at all. As a soldier cannot question the propri-
ety of orders, which he receives from his commanding
fficrr, every mj who was under military law must
have conceived himfelf bound by his duty to obey the
orders he received, be they to vote for any person what
ever, arid that under the pain of military punishment
for disobedience of orders. The militia, a referable
body of freemen, were marched in battalions fr^m the
general's quarters to the election ground, and tickets
were put into their hands before they arrived there.
The general orders of the commanding officer did not
permit the officers, who had a proper ienfe of liberty,,
to fuffer the men to go out of the ranks, or to allow
them time or opportunity of altering the tickets; nor
had t, ey the lid of pen, ink and paper for this purpose,
had they dared to do it. They had no opportunity of
confuting their friends, bf learning what candidates
were proposed, or of deliberating arid anting like free
men for themtelves. Fathers were not permitted to
advise or even to (peak with their sons, as the,
flood in the ranks. Inftanebs . happened of free
men being threatened to be flogged for refufing tovotei
Persons not qualified by law to Vote, wqre permitted to
do it, and many liege fubjea# and reputable inhabi
tants, who were overawed by military parade and b,
military law, returned from the ele&ion ground to their
homes without voting, after going there for that pur
pbfe. An infpeftor was seen to tear tickets and thro*
them out of the window, because they were not in fa
vour of his favourites. To this degraded fitiiatiori
were the body of officer# knd the militia urader their
command, as well as many others reduced, by the mili
tia ad, calculated for the public good; being made uf#
of as an engine of oppression.
These numerous and aggravated grievances form but
a part of what the rhajeft, of the people, the dignity of
law, and the cause of liberty fufferea bn the election
day; a day, on which there was more the appearance
of a combination aglinft tht freedom of election, than
of any regard to the rights of the people or of the con
flitution. If this during atid outrageous innovation it
not checked in the bud, it will toon be quoted as a pre
cedent, and made use of b, ever, ambitious man whd
pursues bis own aggrandizement, Under the specious
appearance of public good. The militia were stripped
of their dearest rights, and the injuries done to others
Were not of a less aggravated nature. The bosom of
patriotism must heave with indignation at the insult.
In behalf therefore of ourselves, add of unborn
posterity, who are attempted to be shackled before the,
tome into exiftente, we call upon this honourable house,
as guardians of the rights of the people; to ihquire in
to the truth of our complaints. We extend our ap
plication farther, and pray, that upon their being (up
ported, the election o' representatives in assembly for
the ceunty of Philadelphia may be set aside, and a neff
election be ordered.
SfeveFai depositions arid other papers, on the riibjeß
of the above petition, were also presented and read, andj
with the petition, ordered so lie on the table;
The Printer of the Pennsylvania Packet is
requeued ;o inftrt in his ufeful Paper the follow
ing Observations. C.
To th# PEOPLE 0# PENNSYLVANIA.
Principals obfta tero Medicina parafur
turn Mala per longas convaluere Moras.
" Those governments which curb not ev.ls, cAiist.^
Young's fat.
STAVING in a preceding paper made some obferva.
tions relative to the office of public auctioneer, at
inflituted in Philadelphia; I shall at present, upon the
ground of reason and the con ftitution, examinee a little
into the propriety of a Monopoly or Duplicity of
office: Tnat toere fliould be offices erected for the more
easy adminifliation of jufiice in a well regulated go
vernment, is not to be disputed, the practice of all
countries Confirms the heceffity thereof, yet the praftic#
bf all tpuntres on those occafidria is not equally wor
thy of imitation; in Great Britain the corruption that
prevails in many offices ddperftd by court favourites,
and disposed of to court parables, to the great bur
then Of the people, together with the accumulated Ti
tles which we fee conferred on many in confequente
of the offices they hold, miif lneeds be a very alarming
example: and the farming and combination of offices
in some parts of the European cabinet, has nothing in it
that can be very exhiliratii)g to the free and firm spirit
of an American: it was fomethirig of this kiad which
fixed an indelible and opprobrious stigma upon the an
tient Romans, whose government we have in part adopt
ed, (and let us not imitate the word parts it) for it was
one of the remarkable charaderiftics of the miserable
degeneracy of that empire, when from the most noble
pure and exemplary condrfl, they funk to such 1
depth of meanness and venality, that " Omnia venalia
Ron%" all things are for falc at Rome," became •
[NUMB 815