The New York packet, and the American advertiser — New York [N.Y.], 1776-04-11 00:00:00, page 1

TO THE PUBLIC.
g.-^^*%^^. — S the liberty of the Press sos
p^o^fy^g 3 been boldly .attacked—my
X 8 soo^s$ 00 ^$ § M private property wantonly
s^l A§ $^ destroyed, and fufpicLns
«fl g^^ §%, aggravated into enormous
,$ cocofoo^fyfi™ cranes *, and circulated both
*'^^^'W^* in city anc icountry, greatly
to my prejudice; these confederations, I hope,
will apologize for laying the following narra
tive before the impartial Public.
SOM.E weeks ago, a manufeript, compos
ed by a Gentleman at fouie considerable dis
tance, and sent in order to be published here, in
answer to the celebrated pamphlet, entitled
Common Sense, was put into my hands bya
Gentleman of this city, who desired me co print it.
As a publication of this nature required mature
deliberation, I did not incline, nor did the Gen
tleman require me to comply with the proposal,
till I should be convinced that the manufeript
was written with decency, and did not expreis,
nor even imply, any dilapprobation of the pro
ceedings of the Hon. Continental Congress, or
the glorious cauf!, in defence of which Ameri
cans are spending their blood and treasure. Be
ing fadsfied as to these particular, I agreed to
print the manufeript on my own account.
Having aimed: finished printing oil the facets,
I advertised the publication of the pamphlet in
Mr. Gaine's Gazette, not imagining that any
offence could justly be taken by my fellow citi
zens : But, to my great furprize, I soon found
that the advertisement had given disgust to
some of the inhabitants, who highly resented it,
as a disapprobation of the laudable enorts ot we
colonies to support their just rights and privi
leges. On the evening of the 18th utt. I re
ceived a message to attend on the Committee of
Mechanics. I attended accordingly, and was in
terrogated by Mr. Chrißopher Duyckink, the
Chairman, " Who was the author of the pam
phlet I was printing,' and who gave me the ma
nufcfipt?" Other members of the Committee
questioned me to the fame purport. I told
them, " I did not know the author, and that !
got the manufeript from a Gentleman ofthis ci
ty, whose name, in my opinion, they had no
right to demand." Displeased at this reply, they
th f itne.4 to burn the pamphlet, blaming me in
ftrjng terms for printing it. I expostulated
with them on the impropriety and unreafonablc
nefs of condemning a book before they had read
it ; therefore, proposed to fend them the Sheets
that were printed, for their peruhd, and to re
fer the whole affair to the Committee of Safety,
and abide by their determination. They did
not, however, think it proper to regard any of
my proposals, but sent fix of their number to my
house, who put the printed Greets in boxes, and
sealed them, except a few which were dryingin
an empty house, the door of which they locked
and took the key with them. The following
evening they sent me the key, and informed me
that they had referred the matter to the General
Committee. Same evening I received a note
to wait on that Committee. I attended, and
was informed by Mr. Broome, the Chairman,
that a complaint had been preferred against me
for printing an answer to the pamphlet entitled
Common Sense; and that the Committee ad
vised me not to proceed any Farther at prelent,
left my personal fafety might be endangered f.
I thanked the Committee, and promised to com
ply with.their advice. But all this availed no
thing towards my security ; for, past ten o'clock
the fame night, Mr. Duyckink, without any
A Wheaten Loaf ofthe fineft FLOUR, to
weigh i lb. II 1,2.0 z. for 4 Coppers.
• Published March 18, 1776.
ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour at 17 s. per Ct.|
* Five or fix weeks ago, I got leave froiq
the Congress to endeavour to get back a run
away servant, I bad been informed was on
board the Asia. On this was founded a fuTpi
cion that Governor Tryon, or Mr. Kemp, the
King's Attorney, had given me the Answer to
Common Sense ; and it was also reported, that
I had received igol. or 200 1. for printing it ;
both which are entirely falfe.
+ None of the Members of the General
Committee of Infpedion had seen the pamph
let, and could not juftify or condemn me for
printing it; hut, apprehending me to be in
danger, from the manner of the complaint, sent
for me and gave me the above-mentioned salu
tary advice.
VO L. I. / , NUMB 15
|*ffflira VLK .mraL ^ULK&ia
A M E RI CA N A DVERTI S^E R.
T HU R S D A Y, ^S^^^ $ APRIL nth, 1776.
Printed by S A MUEL LOUD ON, in Water-Street, between the Coffee-House and the Old Slip.
Thursday, 9 Min. after 3
Friday, 2 Miu. after 4
Saturday, „ Min. after 4
Sunday, 32 Min. alter ^
An ADDRESS to the very moderate and polite
Citizens in the middle Provinces .of America.
Dearly beloved Brethren,
PErmit me in the ' language of undiffembled
friendship and benevolence, as becomes an
commiflion from the Committee of Safety, at
tended, by a large company, and notwithstand
ing all my intreaties, forced into my house, ran
up flairs to the Printing-office, and took away
the whole impfeffion of said pamphlet-, befog a
bout I goo copies, which, at immoderate compu-.
tation, amounts to ygl. They, as I have been
informed, carried them to the Commons, and
committed them to the flames.
I would not anticipate the reflexions that will
naturally arise in the mind of every candid and
dispassionate reader of the above plain and im
partial narrative I have given; but justice to the
public and myfelf requires me to subjoin a few
remarks. \
As the question concerning American inde
pendence, bath not, to the bell of my know
ledge, been decided by the Continental Con
gress, nor by any legal Subordinate Convention,
there can be no criminality in publiflring the ar
guments for and against it; and as it is ^fpe,
ffion of the greatest importance, it should not be
decided before these arguments are fully dis
cussed.
Though a formal answer to the pamphlet en
titled Common Sense, hath been published in
Philadelphia, the Printer hah not faller, under
the resentment ofthe Continental Congress,
which is a decisive evidence, that the Represen
tatives of North-America, do not judge him to
be a transgressor. My zealous, well meaning,
but misguided opponents, would have afted a
confident part, had they paid a due deference to
the wifdem and good sense of that Honourable
body of men, whom they have solemnly pro
inifed to support, py suspending all proceedings
against me till the Philadelphia Printer had been
called to account and condemned by them.
The Public will determine, whether, by not
fuffering any other persons to publish their sen
timents, but the author ot the above-mention
ed'pamphlet, and such as have adapted his way
of thinking, many thousands of Ready friends
to the common cause of America are not de
prived or are of their essential privileges, the
liberty or t eilaring'thcir opinion 1 pon a fubjeX
of the greatest moment, and in which they are
unspeakably more interested than the supposed
author of that pamphlet ?
It is at any rate left-evident, that if any set
of unauthorized men, (hall be pernetted to as.
fume the power ot 'legiflating for their fellow
citizens, and punching them as they please, our
legal Conventions and Committees, with all the
precious liberties for which we are contending,
will be in effect annihilated, and we will be in a
more miserable ilavcry than would arise from
the most fuccefsful execution of all the tyrannic
aXs of the British Parliament.
The freedom of the press is now insulted and
infringed, by some zealous advocates for liberty.
A few more neXurnal assaults upon Printers
may totally destroy it, and America, in conse
quence, may fall a facrifice to a more fatal des
potism than that with which we are threatened.
I have norfconfeioufnefs of guilt in the affair
for which I have been persecuted. It is well
known tha&l have always been a Ready friend
to the liberties ofAmerica, and I am refolded to
rifque my all in their defence, and cheerfully to
submit to every determination of the Continen
tal Congress, of the Provincial Congress ofthis
colony, and of the General Committee.of this
city, that is not contrary to the didates of reli
gion, justice and humanity; hoping, at the
fame time, that the reputation of American
councils will never be contaminated by any de
termination ot such an iniquitous kind. I onlv
claim common justice ; and desire, that for the
future, all political publications issued from my
press, may be legally and impartially tried, bv
the publicly avowed principles of the colonies,
met in Continental Congress. If at any time I
shall publish principles opposite ^o these, under
any other predicament than that of common
news, let me be treated with all the severity
which an enemy to his country deserves.
SAMUEL LOUDON.
HIGH WATER at NEW-YORK.
Monday, 34 Min. after 6
Tuesday, . 36 Min. after 1
Wednesday, 28 Min. after 8
New Moon 18th.
hor,eft confeientious enquirer after truth and
duty, to put the important question to you,
what fort of conduct is proper, and what kjnd
of expreffion^ decent and becoming the gentle
man and the patriot, in these perilous times in
which our lot is fallen : at this alarming crisis,
when the, Po^er to which we once looked for
protection (but can no longer with fafety con
fide in) is letting every engine and instrument
to work, to effect our complete dedruXion, by
laying the whole continent in desolation and
ruin r Do the laws of a polite, genteel education
and good breeding require us to give names and
appellations to persons and things, expressive of
something entirely diverse and contrary to the
nature and. qualities they visibly poflefs? Is
irony and other the like rhetorical figures, the
only decent and fashionable stile in which we
may speak and writer ' Is it neceflary, in order
to be inoffenlive, and escape public censure, t.
use hilfe complaisance, to put on an air of great
refpeX; afteXion and regard, when our hearts
have another kind of feeling and sensation? Is
it become requisite to ahi in disguise, to dissem
ble, to counterfeit what in other circumstances
would be moral and political virtues; and to
play the hypocrite to support a creditable charac
ter in the polite world? To bring my quellion
to the case in hand, is it proper for Americans,
in their present distressed situation, bleeding tin -
der the cruel and murderous hand of tyranny
and oppreflion, to speak of the dignified monarch
of Great Britain as the mast gracious majefiy that
now exists in the world, and celebrate his royal
clemency and mercy, when we find every thing
in his conduct towards us, most ungracious, in
elcn©r, unmerciful, and hostile ? foall we-pre
tcndedly admire the wisdom and tender-hem ted
nefs of his minitlry and parliament; when a spi
rit of infatuation and foplifhnefs, evidently at
tend all their councils, and they are breathing
forth nothing but threatning and slaughter a
ghnft us ; and .11 their plans and operations,
are inhumanly base and diabolical what decent
comphinent shall we return for the robberies,
depredations and gnurders they have committed
on our coasts; for their burning towns and ci
ties, and Gripping whole families and communi
ties of all their fubflance, and turning them out
naked and defiitute, or putting them feo fire and
sword ? Are these felonious ads of ihock
• ing murder, relentless barbarity and cruelty, to
be Ippken of as most gracio^ and merciful? Is it
not an abuse and perversion of language, as well
as of common sense to use these courtly and un
meaning phrases in describing them, especially
when every true American believes them to be
so enormously vile, and iponftroufly cruel, be
yond what the heart of an undisciplined savage
could devise ; and such as the most cruel -of all
, the devils alone would be pleased and gratified
in? Is it ungenteel and indecent, to feel the'e
unprovoked atrocious injuries that are done to
us ; and to exprwfs our feelings of them in lan
guage properly communicative and fignificant ?
Is it not high time, my dear brethren, when
the bombs and cannon balls salute us from eve
ry quarter, to return the compliment, in feme
thing more substantial and solid than what is
dictated by an effeminate, corrupted and un
manly delicacy, with its "idle train of ceremoni
„ous punctilios, and modish forms? Will these
childifn and trifling fopperies, serve as an ar
mour of defence tor the American hero, in this
day ot peril and danger? I trow not. Cannot
such an one maintain and support the dignity
of hi, character, asan accomplished,polite gentle
man, while he puts on valour, fortitude and
magnanimity of foul, and speaks out his feoti
meats freely, agreeable to the unpolished, but
fanXiried dilates of virtue and religion, and vi
gorously exerts all his powers and abilities as the
exigence of the case requires? You will doubt
less answer in the affirmative, and if so, give me
leaye farther to afk,wby there has been so much
complaint in the public papers rff harsh and in-
decent expreflions in some pieces that have been
wrote to spirit and animate our countrymen in
the present glorious contest ard Rruggle? Some
of our bed patriots, who are Iran and unihaken
in their attachment to the imereti of our bleeding
county, and very warmly engaged, -draining
ev^ry nerve in the common cause, willing to
face every danger, and determined to part with
Wheat per Bufnel, g^ gd.
Flour, - - -16 s. od.
Brown Bread, 7 14s. od.
Welt-India Rum, 6„ od,
New-England do. f. od.
PRICE-CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
Mufeofado Sugar, 60s. od.
Single refin'd do. is. 3d.
Molalfefy - - - 3s. 6d.
Beef, per Barrel, 60s. od.
/Fork, - - - 655. od.
life sooner than liberty, have, as a reward tor
their patriotism, been publicly confuted, as be
ing too hanh and severe in their language and
cemdud; in opposition to, which laudable efforts
moderate and prudent meafqres, as they are
called, are firongly recommended. The advo
cates for which, who probably learn their deli
cacy from the courts of princes: the Luke vii.
2 fr Say these zealous, active friends to the coun
try, are too uncharit..ble and rash, and use in
decent expreflions, not courtly and ; complaisant
enough, for such honourable, dignified murder
ers and cut-throats we are contending with, and
that they will hurt our cause. They mean, I
fuppefe, by irritating and provoking our royal
or ministerial enemies, re greater fury and ven
geance againh us; with whom they may pos
sibly have secret hopes of a fpecdy reconciliation.
Do these very moderate and vqry ccmplaifopt
gentlemen mean to aft in jeffi, or in earnest, in
the cause of America, the most weighty and^m
portant that ever the funjhined on ? Do they
view the country in this tragical fcene,as antin',
the part of the madman, which Solomon de
scribes, Prov. xxvi. rB. “ whocafteth fre wands,
arrows and death, and faith, am not I in sport ?'
The virtue of moderation I allow to be excellent
it its place, but the true meaning of it here is
beyond my comprehension; unless it be a luke
warm indifferent temper of mind, a stoical apa
thy, a Rapid infeniibilitf, under our unparalleled
fuflerings, a true passive disposition to make no
refinance, like that which Colonel G--iih ^(co
vered at the battle on Bunker's Hill, which was
interpreted to be treachery and cowardice? Is
this a proper time, my dear countrymen, to ad
minißer opiates, to lull Americans into a lethar
gic and sleepy Rare of unconcernednefe and Se
curity, when all that is dear arid-valuable to u <,
as men, as chriftians, lie at Rake? Does not the
cause we a-e engaged in demand the waimcß
zeal, and most vigorous exertions? Thcduiv of
moderation, I have always thought was feaibn
able to be inculcated only in things uh re the*
was danger of excels; and can'there, me dear
brethren, be any danger of this excefe, in car
love to God and our dear country? Is if net
commendable to excel here, and to go to the
utmost length we are capable ot? Is it ; edible
for an American patriot to be so warmly engag
ed in this cause as to need the caution of Rune
more moderate man, to llop? Will net the !)-
rit and temper or true patriotifin, in iry highrif
influence, keep us under the betl regulation? Io
it a proper time to fetter and check down filch
a spirit, With the prudent cords of caution, ic-
Rraint and controul? For my own part I foccre
ly with it was railed yet higher, and more ußi
verfilly prevailed ; I cannot as vet believe it to
belong to the ^chara&er of the gentleman, or
chriftian^ to be a moderate lover of his country,
,and.ro have a moderate concern for the rights
and liberties of mankind; but rather unpolitb,
unchriflian, and even difgraceful and fenmndous.
There are those now living who well remember,
that the most violent oppofcrs of jefyim,
when there was a remarkable revival of ^ in
years pall, preached up this dfflrine ot modera
tion and prudence, with all the art and fubtihy
they were capable of;'fome added, that even
the devil himlell could inspire them with: I will
only ask one of thole very model a'e gentlemen,
fuppofong his house was in flames, and his who
and children in different apartments in# it, and
all the estate he had in the world, and a nmrn^r
of nu: relative's and kind Qelghbou ^ffiotfid ctan .:
in Indie, and appear very forward and enterpriz
ing, and.warmly exert th^mfelvcs to give him
and his diftrefied family help and relief; whe
ther be would spend some time in preachingfibs
doctrine of moderation, in such circumßances;.
would he caution them ^gainß harth indecent
means to extinguish the flames, and when be
has given an answer, let him compute the ratio
and proportion, that a fugle house and family
bears to the whole continent of America, r.my
the flames of civil war, wh•h he will find to be
as one to three or four millions : this duly &n,
fidered and realized, may afiift him in determin
ing what advice and exhortations are proper in
present circumßancus to be + iven. to his icdow
countrymen. The above questions I hope Y@
to fee Li: ly and candidly anfweied.
AMERICAN PATRICT.
Fine Salt, - - - None.
Coarse Salt, - - gs. qd
Indian Corn, per Bufn. js. To.