The New York packet, and the American advertiser — New York [N.Y.], 1776-05-09 00:00:00, page 1

A Wheaten Loaf of thefineft FLOUR, to
A weigh 1 lb. II 1-2 oz. for 4 Coppers,
Published March iS, 1776.
ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour at 17 s. per Ct.
From the Virginia Gazette.
To the INHABITANTS^ VIRGINIA.
(Continued from our last.)
Caput, domnia, venale, fuh bafta. Juv.
Ris fortune ruined, and himfelf a slave.
My Countrymen,
A^*^s° W ma ny thousand excel
f.«foco^fc^<fy, lent fubjeds might be em
% I ^^^ § ployed in Grip-building, in
§ H§ manning your fleets, and in
« I g©*^ I 7 raifingand manufacturing all
^<fo°o4fe©&^'' °kinds of naval Gores 1 Re
*^^4^^'* G^ a moment on the pre
sent condition of Spain, and on her condition
two centuries ago. She prelents us with a
striking instance, out of a great number which
Europe, Asia, and Africa afford, of the ill effects
of resigning her commerce into the hands of
foreigners ; then the most opulent and formid
able 'power in Europe, now among the most
despised and neglected; then able to give laws
to almost all the world. The United Netherlands'
were but an inconliderable part of her extensive
and powerful empire, but now grown indolent
and negligent of commerce. Even the little
province of Holland, in her turn, gives the
laws of the sea to her former mistress.
I am afraid this fubjeft, though very impor
tant, begins to grow dry and unentertaining to
the public. I ihall therefore produce but one
more instance of the loss we fuGain by this in
dependent trade; and that is in our staple, up
on which the government of England, and the
merchants of Scotland, have it in their power to
put what price they please. At present we e
ftqem two-pence halfpenny per pound, or about
twenty Killings per cwt. a very good average
price; and at this rate a careful planter may
keep himfelf above want, and have enough be
tides to pay his taxes, and give a dinner now
and then to a friend. This tobacco is exported
to Britain, and pays seven-pence halfpenny ster
ling duty per pound, and their merchants make
their fortunes out of it afterwards. The duty
that tobacco pays in the British ports is almost
four times the price it bears in Virginia ; which
by a free trade, and exporting it di edly to the
countries that consume it, would be so much
clear gain to us. The planter then, instead of
twenty drillings, would receive five pounds per
cwt. But, making large allowance for the dis
couragements that such an article of luxury
might be under in our hands, if we were Sepa
rated from Britain, which now consumes a large
proportion of it, I shall suppose its common
price to be three pounds ; that is, forty drillings
more than we receive at present. If then we
suppose that there are annually 110,000,000
lbs. 1 10,000 bogheads of tobacco exported out
of the colony (which is pretty near the truth)
we Ihall gain an advantage of 2,200,000! a
year, besides half as' much more by the great
quantities of hemp, flax, cotton, wheat, and
flour, that are beginning to be raided or manu
factured ; that will enable my countrymen to
be as generous, as their natural'temper inclines
them to be, and to pay a tax of forty drillings
with greater convenience than they can pay
one of fifteen Killings at present. To present
you in one view the whole of what you lose by
a dependent trade, and would gain .by a deter
mined resolution to emancipate yourselves and
it into the liberty for which Providence has de
signed both, and to liflen to no pretended Ne
godation, that does not carry upon her face
candour and fairnefs, and openly, and without
disguise, extend freedom in the one hand, while
ffie offers peace in the other,
Ift. On imports, as above, L. 200,000
2d. Merchants neat profits N
670,000 l. Gerling, - - - 1,087,500 cur.
' 3d. Planters gross profits, 2,200,000
4th. On wheat, Gour, hemp,
flax, &e. at least half as much;
but fay, - - - 1,000,000
sth. That part of the gross
profits of the merchants that
will go to artists of different
kinds, Grip-builders, seamen,
makers of fails, cordage, an
chors, and a variety of other
tradesmen, muff exceed their
Meat gain ; Suppose it - 1,500,000
Sum total L. 5,987,500
VWl^A#^ ^ ft r 0
V 0 L. I.
A M'E R I C A N
THURSDAY,
Printed by SAMUEL LOUDON, in Water-Street, between the Coffee-House and the Old Slip.
AND
Thursday, 16 Min. after 2
Friday, , 9 Min. after 5
Saturday, 1 Min. after 4
Sunday, 25 Min. after 4
That is, it will ircreafe the real property among
us annually to near fix millions. This in seven
years (by which time we flr.ill undoubtedly h ive
difeharged our part of the continental expence)
will amount to above forty millions of pounds'
currency that we (hall be more wealthy than
we should have been if we had continued de
pendent on Great-Britain, and in the fame cir
cumstances that a few years ago we eGeemed ve
ry prosperous. I make no allowance for the
gradual improvement of commerce, because I
am willing to make all my calculations at the"
lowed rates that things will bear; and it is ve
ry possible, that I am now a million or two be
low the truth. Besides, we may let the increas
ed profits of some of the last years of this period
balance our unfkilfulnefs and poverty for a,few
years in the beginning of it. Here is a fund
lufficient for defraying all the expences that e
ven the most timorous amongit us can suppose
to be necessary for the preservation of our liber
ties, against the avarice of a nation much more
powerful than the English, and not a farthing
of our present property touched. And although
we should not be able to enjoy an unmolested
trade tor several years to come ; yet, whenever
that definable period shall arrive, that we ffiall be
as free a^ we ought to be, we shall speedily be
able to redeem all the bills of credit it may be
found necessary to iflue for that purpose. For,
if we lay but the moderate tax of a Grilling in
the pound (which we fliould hardly perceive)
only on thole gains that will be wholly addition
al to the gains of our former limited and depen
dent commerce, we shall be able to fink all the
bills issued in this colony, and our quota of
those that have been issued by the Congress,
and have in the public coffers besides upwards
of five millions of dollars for other necessary
uses.
If we ajm only at interest in the present con
test, it appears plainly what part we ought at
once to resolve upon. If we mean to unite
with our interest the confideratians of equity,
and the dilates of natural afledtion, there is a
degree of injury where affedion ceases, and is
converted into resentment; and I know of no
principles of equity that forbid us to defend
ourselves, or that require us to risk every thing
we have been contending for in tedious and
treacherous Negotiations.
Does any of my countrymen ask me whether
I am an enemy to all treaty, and enquire what
profped shall we have, if these maxims prevail,
of ever feeing a period of our troubles? I an
swer, no; but I would treat with them as the
Roman Consul did with the King of Asia. And
since they have firft drawn the sword, I would
mark a circle round them with the sword, and
demand their peremptory, unevaiive answer to
every requisition our country has a right to
make from them, before they leave the spot.
The controversy has been agitated long enough
for both nations to underGand each other. Each
perfectly knows what ffie is willing to yield, or
what (he will firmly fix her foot, deter pined
to hold it, or perish in the attempt. What need
is there of delay? An hour may decide it as
well as an age. We are too serious to be playing
0 r er with them allthe tricks of what they call
NEGOTIATION, but which is really nothing
else than downright lying and (harping. It is
no time to parley with a robber about your
purse, when he has his pistol at your bread.
Youmuft either give or take in a moment. It
would become us, in the opinion of some men,
mighty well to be sure, to forbear such high
language, and rather to manage our cause by
[applications' and crying to a great King and a
powersu 1 nation! We have cried and roared long
enough already, and what have we got by it?
Our petitions have been turned out of.doors,
and we have all been called rebels and savages,
and what not, because we have roared so loud
as to disturb his Majefly's good repose, and 0
blige him to wear out his horses driving from
Kew to St. James's. If we are blameable, it is
for using these ineffectual applications too long
The time is come in which we ought to do
something decisive ; and the more desi r ous our
enemies seem to be to involve us in knotty and
intricate NEGOTIATIONS, the more deter
mined should we be not to unravel them, but to
cut them with the sword. They well know that
HIGH WATER at NEW-YORK.V
etfr-CTMCT^CT^ffIr ^-aviaK«irari^«Bß?gL ' a TT^WM
°ra©V^l^ra A ^ffi'il
^ ^^^^^ f ^
Monday, $3 Min. after 51
Tuesday, 30 Mm. alter 6|
VVednefday, 24 Min. after 7 I
Lift Quarter loth.
THE
tedious inactive delays muff bring our affairs to
a ruinous condition ; and if they can waste our
time in negotiating, the battle is won without
striking a stroke. Our resources mull be great
ly diminished before we engage in action; and
when they have worn us out with subtle deli
berations, and wafted our treasure, while they
only wanted to gain time by artful compliances
and demands, they know very well how, by a
such in politics, to throw every thing into con
fufion again, and to expose us naked, and per
haps diftradfed with mutual difeords among our
selves, to superior wealth and superior power.
I design no reflection on thole who may be ap
pointed to treat with them on the part of Ame
rica. On the other hand, Ido not doubt their
abilities. But it is always in the power of a mi
nistry, who will be treacherous, and whose in
terest lies in gaining time, to over-reach the
wi^eft politicians, if the will defeend to follow
them through the labyrinth of negotiation that
is only meant as a wile to mislead or to blind
them. But we have not only an accumulated
debt to dread by the tedious delays that are un
avoidable in the common forms of negotiating,
but infinite diffentions among ourselves. An en
terprize that depends upon the concord and
exertions of the people, will ever infallibly fail,
if they are long held in a Gate of doubtful inacti
vity. All wife politicians, who haye governed
them with success, have found it necessary to
keep them employed in constant aCiion. I can
scarcely forbear to consider it as miraculous,that
this extensive continent has hitherto been led
to pursue one determinate plan, with so much
unanimity and perseverance. But there is no
error we ought more to dread than wearing out
the patience of the populace by inaction. When
their minds have long hung in ftifpenfe, at such
a crilis as the present, they naturally fall into
one of these two dangerous evils, either an en
tire languor and puflivicy of temper, or an im
patience that at length breaks out in faction and
sedition. In two of our neighbouring colonies,
which have been fartheft removed from the feene
of aCtion, we have already seen this observation
unhappily verified. And the suspense in which
all the colonies have been held for a consider
able time is beginning to verge towards impa
tience, which will very probably soon burst out
into violent mutual dlffentions, if it shall be de
frauded of a proper enemy by an unreasonable
NEGOTIATION; especially when it is art
; fully managed by emifFaries who will refufe nei
ther promises nor rewards to inflame it to their
purpose. For God's fake then, my countrymen,
let us waste no time in unnecessary and danger
ous delays ; let us aft with vigour and decision ;
let us propose to them the terms we demand in
a clear and unequivocal manner, and require
of them an immediate answer. Suffer them
not to waste an hour, for every hour is precious,
under the artful pretence of considering propo
sitions more maturely, which they ought to have
been well determined on long ago; or of not
having brought with them fufficient powers, a
ufeful artifice of Gatefmen, so that they can
propose or answer nothing decisive without
fending two or'three times across the Atlantic.
And since they have set us the example of treat
ing at the point of the sword ; cut short the
NEGOTIATION they would be willing to
protraCt, and make your appeal at once to the
sword.
A PLANTER.
T® ihe Printer of the New-York Packet.
SI R,
MY last paper considered the general na
ture and design of religious fading; I
only add farther on that head, that to a due and
acceptable attendance on this great duty, it is
proper, during the time set apart for it, we
should religiously abGain from all thole amuse
ments that may be lawful, ^nd all those servile
labours that are our duty, at other seasons. One
of the tins with which God charges his people
Ifrael,by the prophet Isaiah, is, that on such oc
casions, “ They found their pleasures, and ex
acted all their labours."
Let us now confider the genuine effects of
this duty, when sincere ; and the most obvious
®f these is, a forfaking those iniquities, of
which we profefs to repent, by our falling. It
Wheat per Bushel, gs. yd.
If Flour, - - -16 s. od.
'Brown Bread, -14 s. od.
WeG-lu'dia Rum, 6s. od.
[New-England do. 4s. od.
(Wt (^O^WW^)
I^K^a r ('krif^
PRICE-CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
ADVERTISE R.
Mufcovado Sugar, 70s. od.
Single refin'd do. is. 3d.
Monies, - - - 3s. 6d.
Beef, per Barrel, 60s. od.
Pork, - - - Sos. od.
M A Y 9tb, 1776.
But this reformation is not only necessary to
the constituting a genuine repentance; it is e
qually so for the arrefling of threatned judg
ments, and for our deliverance from impending
calamities. The nature of that government
God has instituted in our world, teaches us
this. It is a moral government; its fubje&s
are rational creatures. In this character He
confiders us, in that law He Has given as the
rule of our conduct: And as Jifobedience to
this law and government is at c>» e our fin, our
disgrace and our ruin, God has graciously
guarded us against it, by the rnoft direct and
powerful addrefles to the p&ffion of fear, in the
threatnings ofhis word. Here He has connect
'ted moral and penal evil together, in the moG
inseparable manner ; and all the calamities of
the present Gate, and the miseries ' that await the
impenitent beyond the grave, are properly the
execution of the penalty of his law, and so ma
ny ways in which the great Lord of the uni
verse, teftifies the holiness of his nature and the
righteousness of his government; and this go
vernment being established and made known,
the honour o c his truth and juflice necessarily
requires it fliould be maintained ' and executed.
Agreeable to this, the sacred scriptures give us
no ground to hope for the removal of our judg
ments, in any other way, than by forfaking our
fins. The Royal Preacher, under the unerring
guidance of the Spirit of truth, affufes vs,
"'He that covereth his fin ihall not prosper;
" but whoso confeffeth and forsaketh shall
" find mercy.' ' It is necessary to remark here,
with particular care, that a bare confeffion of
our fins, however solemn and particular, and
though accompanied by fading and prayer,
will not avail for our obtaining mercy, without
a forfaking them ; this is the Ganding law of
heaven, both as to individuals and communities.
It is, indeed, peculiarly necessary it should be so
with refpe(G to communities, whose exigence is
confined to the present Gate; and which, there
fore, must be punished or rewarded in this
world, or go unpunished and unrewarded : But
neither the jufiice nor goodness of the divine
Governor will admit of this. With refp^6f to
individuals, Heaven may, and often does fuffer
their virtues to go unrewarded, or their vices
unpunished, in this life, with a view to a future
Gate, which is properly the Gate of rewardsand
punishments, as to them: But not so with re
fpe& to communities, which do not exist, as
such, beyond the grave. And this appears the
more-necessary, when we confider, thut feeing
the declarations of God's word against vice and
prophanenefs are not regarded,there seems to be
no other way left for Him to teftify his just ab
horrence of them, than^by punishing them by
his righteous judgments; this is neceffmy, that
men may know, that " verily there is a God
who judgeth in the earth." But all this im
plies the execution and threatned judgments in
case of impenitency.
But while neither the word nor the govern
ment of God affords us hopes of deliverance
from our calamities, while we continue to prac
tife the impieties that are their procuring caufe=
they both conspire to encourage us to exp^lic,
has been already said, that this duty is a prac «
cal acknowledgment, on our part, that we ;i;G
sinners, and tinners of so crimson a dye, that
we justly deserve all the evils we either feel or
fear, and that God is punishing us yet less than
our iniquities deserve. But to vindicate the
fmcerity of this acknowledgment, it muG be ac
companied by a reformation: Can any thing Ift:
more absurd, than to confefs and repent ot tins
we still continue to pra&ife; this kind of repen
tance would be justly rejected in com,mon life.
The parent would not, could not admit the re
peiftance of that child as sincere, who, amidst
all his profeffions of sorrow, and promises of a
mendment, still perfifled in his undutiful con
du&. So, in the case 'before us, to repent of
our personal iniquities or public vices, we must
reform them. All our profeffiohs of sorrow for
them, and lamentations pver them, are arrant
hypocrisy, without this, and as such they will
be treated by that God who searches the heart,
and tries the reins of the children oftnen; that
God who judges of men and things, not by
their outward appearance, but by their true cha
radters.
T HE
Fine Salt, - - - None.
Coarse Salt, - - 3s. gd
Indian Corn, per Buffi. 3s. bd.
NU MB. 19.