The New York packet, and the American advertiser — New York [N.Y.], 1776-03-07 00:00:00, page 1

Ry infertbi, the following, from k Philadelphia
Paper, you will oblige a Friend andCuflomer.
'' The Republican Spirit is indeed at Bottom as
<< ambitious as the Monarchical:' Voltaire.
&^^4 HE town has been !. at . el y
6 $ 00£>$ 0800$&. amused by a new political
§ gfooos § ^ pamphlet, intitled, Common
«&^ I T § $^ Sense.
& l fy^^ 1 9 This piece, though it has
^<fcc oO fr^sQ taken a popular name, and
s'^^*^f^^ implies that the contents are
obvious, and adapted to the understandings of
the bulk of the people, is so far from meriting
the title it has aflumed, that in my opinion it
holds principles equally inconsistent with learn
ed and common sense.
I know not the author, nor am I anxious to
learn his name or character ; for the book, and
not the writer of it, is to be the fubjed of my
animadversions.
Tis the glory of a free country to enjoy a free
press, and of this, that the sentiments of the
meanest, equally with those of the greatest, are
brought to view; for we know by frequent in
stances, that the rich and high born are not the
monopolizers of wisdom and virtue. On the con
trary, these qualities are oftener to be found a
mong the middling elafs in every country, who,
bein^ rlefs dissipated and debauched than those
whoare usually called their betters, applythem
felves with more industry to the culture of their
understandings, and in reality become better ac
quainted with the true interests of the society in
which they live.
But to my great grief I have too often seen
infiances of 'perfons in everyelafs of life,
whole publications, at the fame time they have
reflexed honour on the parts and genius of the
authors, have been so fhamefully wanting in
candour, as'to attempt, by the cadence of Words,
and force of stile, a total perveriion of the un
derstanding.
The pamphlet in question seems to be plainly
calculated to induce a belief of three things.'
1. That the English form of government has
no wisdom in it, and that it is by no means so
conftruded as to produce the happiness of the
people,which is the end of all good government.
2. That monarchy is a form of government
inconsistent with the will of God.
3. That now is the time to break of all con
nection with Great Britain, and to declaie an
independance of the colonies.
It must be obvious to every impartial eye,
that the author reasons from the abuses of, a
gainst the benefits derived from, the Enghih
constitution; and after reciting these abuses
concludes very unfairly, that “ it is incapable
to produce what it seems to promise." for it an
argument of this fort is to be received, it will
prove perhaps rather more than the author
would choose--it would even prove that the
Jewish theocracy was quite as improper, and as
Incapable to produce what it aimed at, as the
reprobated English government. The records
of sacred history inform us, that the law was
given to the people^from God, and that the
Great Jehovah himfelf condefended to call them
his chofed people. He finally interposed in
their behalf in bringing them out of bondage,
in preserving them from the rage of Pharoah's
army, and feating them in a land flowing with
milk and honey, under his immediate govern
ment and laws, “ written with his own finger."
“ And he will love thee, and bless thee, and
multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of
thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn
and thy wine, and thy oil; the increase of thy
kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land
which he fware unto thy fathers to give thee."
Deut. vii. 13.
“ Thou shalt be blessed above all people,
there shall not be male or female barren among
you, or among your cattle." Deut. vii. 14.
But what effects did all these extraordinary
favours and promises of the Deity himfelf pro
duce upon that wicked, perverse, fliff-necked
people? Moses tells them,
“ From die day that thou didst depart out of
the land of Egypt,until' ye came unto this place,
ye have been rebellious against the Lord."
Deut. ix. 7.
“ You have been rebellious against the Lord
from the day that I knew you." Deut. ix. 24.
ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour at 19 s. per Ct.l
AWheaten Loaf of the fineft FLOUR, to
weigh i lb. 81-2 oz. for 4 Coppers.
Published Nov. 2,177 g.
V 0 L. I.NUMB io.
THE
W^W^ WP ^^ ^H^ ofl
\U% : frQ^^ ^^44l4o^^ Z-Q^O
AMERICANAD VE R T I S E R.
—— „_ I .Ilir. ' ■ - — . ——^^
THURSDAY, MARCH 7^, 1776.
Printed by SAMUEL LOUDON, in W ater-Street, betwen the Coffee-House and the Old Slip.
Thursday, 40 Min. after 10
Friday, 21 Min. after 11
Saturday, 4 Min. after 12
Sunday, 48 Min. after 12
I Profane as well as sacred history informs us
of the ineffectuality of the best governments and
the wisest laws, among a corrupt, degenerate
people. It does not regularly follow, that if the
people are not happy under an excellent form
of civil polity, that the fault is in the govern
ment, it may be owing to the corruption of the
people, and this I take to be the case in Great-
Britain at this day. When the British Parlia
ment is properly balanced, and each branch of
the legislature faithfully executes its duty, I
think I am fafe in affirming that there was never
yet a form of government in the world so well
calculated for the happiness of a free people
as this, and yet we are told by the author of the
pamphlet, that the " prejudice of Englifnihcn
in favour of King, Lords, and Commons, arises
as much or more from national pride than rea
son." The world has already seen numberless
infiances of fipe-fpun political theories, which,
like the quackeries of mountebank Doffers, are
to cure all the political evils to which human
nature is liable. But when the experiment is
made, they become aitonifhed at the ill success
of their boasted schemes. They find athoufand
little passions and interests continually interfer
ing with their designs, and at length retire a
gain to their closets, chagrined they had not
thought it necessary to study the great volume
of human nature, before they ventured to fay
what was best for mankind.
The author, after- venting his spleen against
the English form of government, comes next to
confider the fubjed of monarchy and hereditary
succession; in treating which, he plainly disco
vers the utmost prepossession in favour of a re
public. I shall not follow him through his
scripture quotations, which he has so carefully
garbled to answer his purpose, but beg leave to
oppose some authorities to it.
The celebrated Trenchard, in No. 60, of
Cato's Letters, fays, “ There is no govern
ment now upon earth, which owes its formation
or beginning to the immediate revelation of
God, or can derive its existence from such re
velation ; it is certain, on the contrary, that the
rife and institution, or variation of government,
from time to time, is within the memory of
man or of histories ; and that every government,
which rye know at this day in the world, was
efiablifhed by the wisdom and force of mere men,
and by the concurrence of causes evidently hu
man."
" Nor has God by any revelation nominated
magiftraites, (hewed the nature or extent of their
powers, or given a plan of civil polity for man
kind." (Hutch. Mor. Philof. p. 272.)
" There being no natural or divine law for
any form of government, or that one person ra
ther than another ihould have the sovereign ad
ministration of affairs, or have power over ma
ny thousand different families, who are by na
ture all equal, being of the fame rank, promis
cuously born to the fame advantages of nature,
and ,to the use of the fame common faculties,
therefore mankind is at liberty to choose what
form of government they like."
" God's providence or permission fuffered his
own peculiar people the Jews to be under di
vers governments at divers times ; as firft under
patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, &c. then
underjudges, Othniel, Ehud, and Gideon; then
under high-priests, Eli and Samuel; then un
der kings, Saul, David and the rest ; then un
der captains and high-priests again, as Zeroba
bel, Judas, Maccabeus, and his brethren ; and
the government was lastly taken from them, and
they brought under the power of Rome. And
that God permits such magistrate or magiftrstes
as the community thinks fit to approve, is plain
by the testimony of Holy Scripture, when God
said to Solomon, '' By me kings rule, even all
the judges of theearth." Prov. viii. 16.
“ When the sons of Samuel were judges o
ver Israel, they took bribes and perverted judg
ment, therefore the elders of Israel desired Sa
muel to make them a king; and though the
elders are only mentioned to have asked a king
of Samuel, they seem to have been deputed from
the whole congregation ; for God Did unto Sa
muel, " Hearken unto the voice of the people
in all that they fay unto thee." 1 Sam. viii. 4,
7.
" And Samuel told the people the inannei of
HIGH WATER at NEW-YORK.
Monday, 36 Min. after 1
Tuesday, 23 Min. after 2
Wednesday, 16 Min. after 3
Lift Quarter, 1 sth.
the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it
up before the Lord." 1 Sam. x. 2s. 'Tis plain
the manner of the kingdom Jignilies the consti
tution of the government, by which was meant
the conditions on which Saul was to be king,
and they his fubjedts : for though God had giv
en him the crown, it was to rule the people ac
cording to juflice and laws.
" After the battle between Saul and she Am
monites, Samuel said to the people, " Come let
us go to Giigal; and there they made Saul king
before the Lord." 1 Sam. xi. 1, §, 6,7, 14, 15.
" Now therefore behold the king whom ye
have chosen; and behold the Lord hath set a
king over you." Sam. chap. xii. 13.
These latter quotations are taken from the
great Lord Somer's book, called,'" The Judg
ment of whole kingdoms and nations, concern
ing the rights of Kings and people." This no
bleman was Lord High Chancellor of England
in King William's reign, and was remarkable
for his revolution principles, great learning and
unshaken integrity, in public and private life.
It does therefore from the foregoing testimo
nies appear, that monarchy, (especially a limit
ed one, such as that of England) is not incon
fifient with the holy Scriptures, as is set forth
in said pamphlet, but that it is as pleating to the
Almighty, if agreeable to the people, as any 0-
ther form of government, even the author's be
loved republic.
The writer next proceeds to inform his read
ers of the numerous wars and feenes of blood
added in England under their kings, and asserts
that ' Monarchy and succession have laid the
world in blood and ashes. Tis a form of go
vernment which the word of God bears testimo
ny against, and blood will attend it.'---Here arc
bold assertions indeed.---To the latter part I
have already endeavoured to make some reply,
so far as ,he averts i; is contrary to the word of
God; but will the author's candour permit him
to inform his reader of the infinite diftradions
and mifehiefs which have happened in the an
cient and modern republics.—-Under this form
there are always two parties, which divide the
whole body of the people, and an eternal war
fare subsists between them for power. The
contest is dreadful enough, but which soever
party prevails, there is no rod heavy enough,
no sword fufficiently sharp, to punish those
whom they have fubdued.-—lt then becomes a
many headed monfler, a tyranny of many.
Let any man read with an unprejudiced eye
the accounts which historians give us of the fa
mous Grecian commonwealths, and I will ven
ture to speak for him, that he will not bestow
great commendations on them.---The Atheni
ans, a wife and polished people, very often ba
niihed their best citizens, from an apprehension
of their power-—a glorious reward for a virtu
ous citizen, who, as was the case in more in
stances than one, had preserved his country
from deftruTion. In the latter times of the
Carthagenian and Roman republics, what con
stant feenes of blood and devaluation does histo
ry present to us.---The multitude in a perpetu
al ferment like the ocean in a storm---in a form
did I fay---like the waters of the sea, agitated
bya dreadful whirlwind, nothing but the fury
of one party encountering the rage of another.
Every trace of humanity being thus loft, men
change their natures and become as fierce and
fayage as wolves and tygers.
But let us defeend nearer to modern times-—
let us look for happiness and security in the re
public of Holland, so often mentioned, and so
little known-—let us recollect the fate of the two
brothers, Cornelius and John De Wit, Dutch
Ministers, who were massacred by the people in
the year 1672. Holland itfelf, from being a
republic, is become a downright ariflocracy.
Liberty did not continue long in that country,
notwithstanding the blood and treasure that
were expended to acquire it. The people, so
fir from being free, have had no voice for ma
ny years past in the election of persons to repre
sent them in the States-General, nor have they
any thing to do in the forming of laws by which
they are to be governed. Whenever one of
them dies, the vacancy is tilled up without any
interference of the people, and this important
change was made in the date, because of the in
tolerable feuds and animalities which attended
Wheat per Bulhel, 6s. odd
Flour, - - - jps . od.;
Brown Bread, -13 s. 6d.;
Wed-India Rum, ys. od.;
New-England do. 4s. 6d.
PRICE-CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
Mufeovado Sugar,7os/ Sod.
Single refin'd do.' is. 2d.
MoEffes, - - - as. Bd.
Beef, per Barrel, 48s. od.
Perk, - - - Sos. od.
Mr. Loudon,
PLEASE to give information to the Pub
lic, thro' the channel of your paper, that
the late excellent pamphlet, entitled, Cw
mon Sen/e, juftlv estimated to be of more worth
than its weight in gold, has made a very rapid
progress into the country, and meets with uni
versal approbation and applause. The Senti
ments it contains are eagerly imbibed, by every
one possessed of any tolerable share of that rare
commodity. It has become the topic of tpe
dav,and engrosses conversation in all companies,
and not a single objection has as yet, to my
knowledge, been raised against the proposed
plan of American separation and independency.
The loud thunders of British cannon around our
coasts, have had this good effe& among other.,
to awaken our before flupid and fleecing inha
bitants to the exercise of this Common Sense;
which, of all others, is most valuable, and isW
its genuine, unbiased dictates, the fabft con
du&or thro"the perils and dangers ofti>. It is
a gift or talent from heaven, bestowed on all ra
tional beings, and merits their mod fludious at
tention and cultivation; without which, all
their improvements in the refined arts and fei
ences will make them but learned fools and cra
zy-brained blockheads. This Common Sense
ever ranks with Liberty, and keeps an exact
ratio and proportion with her. Where the spi
rit of Liberty is borne down with the weight of
tyranny and opprefficn, the intelledual powers
of the mind are so fettered andfhackled with the
dogmatic rites of superstition and domination,
as to prevent their free exercise and operation,
the' elections of representatives. Had they.been
to have chosen a king, what dangerous and de-
Eruptive tumults must it have produced. Found
ed on the woeful experience of ages, it is now
become a general fixed opinion, that heThrary
is perferable to elective monarchy, on account
of the terrible disorders, outrages and,corhuEm
which usually attend the election of a king; a
pregnant instance of which, in our times, is toe
kingdom of Poland. ,/
In our own history, we fee what was the < -
fed of the much wished tor commonwealth al
ter the death of the tyrant Charks-Tt dr. not
produce liberty—it prcfently ended in arbitrary
power. The moment ahnoft after the reins of
government fell from Charics's hands, Crom
well took them up, and governed the nation,
with absolute sway,
I cannot agree with the author of the pamph
let in opinion, that this is the time to declare an
independance of the colonies. This ought to
be the dernier resort of America. Let us not
yet lose light of the primary object of the dis
pute, namely, a fafe, honourable and sassing
reconciliation with Great-Britain, until we are
under a necedity of doing it. It an advantage
ous accommodation can be had, and a tree con
stitution for this country be ellablifned on mu
tual agreement and compact, 'twill be better
and happier tor us. But if juflice is dill denied
us, and we are to contend for liberty by arms,
we will meet them in the field, and try cur
manhood against them, even to ipiirng the
blood of every brave man we have. Should the
minidry have recourse to foreign .aid, we may
possibly follow their example ; and,if it be cEen
tial then to our fafety to declare an indepen
dance, I would willingly embrace the necessity.
RATIONALIS."
g^ While the Printer intends to maintEn the
liberty of the Press, by publishing decent EG
fays that may from time to time be sent to him,
he begs leave to drop a caution to some of his
correspondents, intreating them to omit too
ftrongand indecent expressions in their piece:.
He is averse to publish such. They give ofo
fence to his readers. Do they help the grand
American cause? Quite the re+erfe. Cool
reasoning best suits important fubieds. He
requests writers on controversial fubjetfs to
fend their names with their pieces, without
which he will decline printing them. 'I he
unknown author of the following/ will be
pleased to excuse the Printer tor omitting a
few of his very barfh sentences, as be is con
fident they would answer a very bad end,
and injure the cause he means to support.
1 Fine Salt, - - - None,
Coarse Salt, - - 4s. 6d.
I Indian Corn, per Bush. 3s. tX