The New York packet, and the American advertiser — New York [N.Y.], 1776-05-09 00:00:00, page 2

by hunting, or by an incursion against the ene
my. Particular care was taken to prevent these
young soldiers from.enjoying too early an ac
quaintance with the opposite sex, till their limbs
had acquired all the vigour of which they were
capable. Indeed they could have no hope to
be acceptable to the women, but in proportion
to the courage and address they had shewn in
war, and in their military exercises. According
ly we fee in an ancient song, preferred by Bar
tholiny a king of Norway was extremely fur
prized, that as he could perform eight different
exercises, and hid mistress ffiould presume to re
ject his suit. I ffiall frequently have occasion
to produce new instances of this manner of
thinking among their women; it is fufficient
at prefect to obfcrve, that they were }pot likely
-From the Pennsylvania. Magazine.
Extract dinar, Heroifa of the ancient Scandina
vians.
THE ancient Scandinavians breathed nothing
but war, which was at once with them
the source of honour, riches andfafety. Their
education, laws, prejudices, morality, and re
ligion, all concurred to make that their ruling
pillion and only object Front their most ten
der age they applied themselves to learn the mi
litary art ; they hardened their bodies and ac
customed themselves to cold, fatigue and hunger.
They exercised themselves in running, in the
chace, in swimming across the greatest rivers,
and in handling their arms. The very sports of
childhood itfelf and of early youth, were all di
rected towards this end : dangers were always
intermingled with their play. For it confided in
taking frightful leaps, in climbing up the steep
est rocks, in fighting naked with offenfive wea
'pons, in wrcftling with the utmost fury : it was
thereto e common to fee them at the age of
fifteen years, already grown strong robtift men,
and able to make themselves feared ill combat.
It was also at this age that their young men
became their own matters, which they did by
receiving a sword, a buckler and a lance. This
ceremony was performed in some public meet
ing. One of the principal persons of the as,
fembly armed the youth in public meeting,
" This, we are told by Tacitus, was his to^a
viriles, his entrance upon dignities ; before this
he made only part of a family, now he be
came a member of the community or fate."
After this he was obliged to provide for
his own subsistence, and was- either now to live
<M G ur repentance and Tclormation---the dehgn
of God in his judgments is not to deiboy, but
to leiorm and save his creatures. Whenever
therefore a people are brought to repent and re
form by this heavenly discipline, the benevolent
end's or Providence ate >nlwered, and thejudg
menrs will no doubt; be removed. " God does
not adhet willingly, nor grieve the children of
men." The gracious and most emphaticul
language of the molt affiidiive dispensation or his
hand i% " As I live, ihuh the Lord God. I
have no plealure in the death ot the wicked;
but that the wicked turn'from his way and live :
turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways, tor why
will ye die, 0 house of llraci," I'hejadvents
or Heaven, however lure, are but another mode
of expelling that divine afpirstion of a God
himfelf, " O that there were fitch a heart in
them, that they would fear me, and keep all
my commandments always, that it might be
well with them, and with their children for
ever." >
" Letthe wicked therefore for hike bis way, and
the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him
return unto the Lord, and he will 'have irttercy
upon him; and to our God; for he will abun
dantly pardon." In this ejfy^and luccefstul
way have all ra6ks, among us, an opportunity
of serving their country, in the most essential
manner, in its present opprefled and bleeding
ftute. Let every individual reform one. 'ibis
is no difficult talk; and thus' the community,
which is composed of individuals, will be re
formed and prepared tor deliverance.
There are Some impieties under which our
landgroans, that more especially call for repent
ance and information ; as evidences ot our sin
cerity in falling and praying before the Lord,
arid as preparatory for the salvation we to ar
dently with. Of this kind are the propbane
curling and swearing, so fully prevalent among
ns: impieties these, idle arad u/elels in their
nature, and highly criminal in the light of God.
Audit is no iinall dirirefs to the virtuous friends
of liberty, to find this vice io prevalent in or
armies, 'thofe faviours ofour country under Pro
vidence; and that notwithfinding their prohi
bition by the Honourable Continental Congress,
in their articles of war ; in aid to the lame pro
hibition by divine authority. To this I niay
add, the brutal vice of drunkenness; the fin of
uncleanness; the prophaning of God's holy
day; the neglect of the ordinances of his wor
ship; and the contempt with which the atone
ment and laws of the Saviour of men, are treat
ed, by those who wear his sacred name. But I
forbear to enumerate particulars. Every species
or prophanenefs pradfifed among us, is to be
considered as among the procuring carafes of our
judgments. And therefore one of the most ef
fcntial Cervices we can render our country is,
every one to turn from the evil of his way---
this is the way to secure the smiles of Heaven
on our glorious ftruggl.es, for our inestimable
rights, and bring this linnatural, though im
portant war to a fpCedy and honourable iftue.
CHRISTIANUS.
Ne-w-rorb, May 4, 1776.
N. B. The reader is desired to cotreß the
fiiri Sentence, in the firft paper, on this fubjed,
in our lari Thursday's Packet, thus; ihriead of,
" Our country's present alarming state," read
" The present alarming date of bur country."
to fatten their children by too much delicacy
and indulgence. The c tender creatures were
generally bo,n in the midit of camps and ann
ies. Their eyes, from the moment they were
firri opened, Caw nothing but military Spectacles,
arms, eftufon of blood, and combats, either real
or in sport; thus a^ they grew up from their
infa cy, their louls were early disposed to im
bibe the ci uel prejudices of their fathers.
Their laws for the most part (like those of
the ancient Lacedemonians) leemed to know no
other virtues than thole of a military nature,
and no other crimes but cowardice. They in
iict 'd the greatest penalties on such as tied the
firft in battle. The laws of'the ancient Danes,
acc tiding to Saxo, excluded them from society,
an 1 declared them infamous. Among the Ger
mans this was fometimeacarried so tar as to
furiricate cowards in mud; afterwhich they co
vered them over with hurdles : To Shew, lays
Tacitus, that though the punishment of crimes
Gould be public, there are certain degrees of ,
cowardice and infamy which ought to be burled
in eternal silence. The mold flattering diftihe- ,
tion gwere referred tor such as had performed (
fom? signal exploit; and the laws themselves
distributed men into different ranks according to \
their different degrees of courage. Frotho, King
of Denmark, had ordained, according to Saxo,
that whoever solicited an eminent post in the
army, ought upon all occasions, to attack one
enemy; to face two; to retire only one step
back from three; and not to make an actual
retreat till assaulted by tour. Hence was form
ed that prejudice so deeply rooted among
those people that there was not any other
way to acquire glory but by the profeffion of
arms, and a fanatic valour: a prejudice, the
force of which displayed itfelf without obstruc
tion, at a time when luxury was unknown /
when that delire, so natural, and so active among
men, of drawing upon themselves the attention
of their equals, had but one tingle object and
support; and when their country and their
fellow citizens had no other treasure but the
fame of their exploits, and the terror thereby
excited in their neighbours.
The rules of justice, far from checking.thefe
prejudices, had been themselves warped and
adapted to their bias. It is no exaggeration to
fay, thkt all the Gothic and Celtic nations en
tertained opinions on this fubjed, quite opposite
to tire theory of our times. They looked upon
war as a real aft of justice, and erieemed force
an inconteftible title over the weak, a visible
mark that Gad had intended to fubjea them to
the strong. They had no doubt but the inten
tions of the divinity had been to establish the
fame dependence among men which there is a
niong animals, and letting out from the prin
ciple of the inequality of men, as our civilians
do from that of their equality, they inferred
thence that the weak had no right to what they
could not defend. This maxim, which formed
the basis of the law of nations among the an
cient inhabitants of Europe, being dilated by
their most darling passion, we cannot wonder
that they Should so Steadily aft up' to it in prac
tice. And which of all is the worst? to think
and aft as they did; or, like the moderns, with
better principles to add as ill ? As to the ancient
nations, we attribute nothing to them here but
what is juftified by a thousand a6ls., They a
dopted the above maxim in all its rigour, and
gave the name of Divine Judgment not only to
the judiciary combat, but to battles of all forts':
victory being in their opinion the only certain
mark by which Providence enables us to dif
tinguilh those whom it has appointed to com
mand others. " Valour, fays a German war
rior in Tacitus, is the only proper goods of men.
The Gods range themselves on the fide of the
flrongeft."
Religion, by annexing eternal happiness to
the military virtues, had given the laidegree of
activity to the ardour and propensity these peo
ple had for war.- There were no fatigues, no
dangers nor torments capable of damping a pas
sion so well countenanced, and the delire of
meriting so great a reward. We have Seen what
motives this religion offered to. its votaries ; and
we cannot fail to recai them in reading some in
stances of that courage which distinguished the
ancient Scandinavians, and of their contempt of
death itfelf, which I foall produce from the au
thentic chronicles of Iceland.
History informs us, that Harold, surnamed
Blaatand, or Blue Tooth (a King of Denmark,
who reigned in the middle of the tenth century)
had founded on the crafts of Pomerania, which
he had Subdued, a city named Julin or Jomf
bourg ; where he sent a colony of young Danes,
and bestowed the government on a celebrated
warrior named Planatoko. This new Lycurgus
had made of that city a Second Sparta, and eve
ry thing was directed to form complete soldiers.
the author who has left us the history of this
colony assures us, that " it was forbidden there
so much as to mention ,he name of Fear, even
in the most imminent dangers." No citizen or
Jomfbourg was to yield to any number however
great, but to fight intrepidly without flying,
even from a superior force. The fight of pre
sent and inevitable death would have been no
cxcufe with them for making anythe least com
plaint, or for flawing the Slightest apprehension.
And this legislator really appears to have eradi
cated from the minds of molt of the youths bred
up under him, all traces of that Sentiment so
natural and so universal, which makes men
think on their dellruction with horror. Nothing
can Shew this better than a Single fad in their
history, which deserves to have place here for
its Singularity. Some of them having made an
irruption into the territories of a powerful Nor
wegian Lord, named Haquin, were overcome
in spite of the obstinacy of their refinance ; and
the most distinguished among them being made
prisoners, were, according to the custom of those
times, condemned to death. The news of this,
far from affli&ng them, was, on the contrary,
received with joy. The Sirft who was led to
punishment was content to fay, without chang
ing countenance, and without expressing the
least Sign of tear, " Why Should not the fame
happen to me, as did to my father? He died,
and so must 1." A warrior named Thorchill,
who was to cut off the head of the Second, hav
ing asked him what he felt at the fight of deAth,
he aniwered, that " he remembered too well the
laws ot Jomfbourg to utter any word, that de
noted fear," The third in reply to the fame
question said, " he rejoiced to die with glory,
and that he preferred such a death to & infa
mous lite like that of Thorchill." The fourth
made an answer much longer and mor,e extra
ordinary. “ I Suffer with a good heart; and the
present hour is to me very agreeable. I only
beg °s you, added he, addressing himfelf to
Thorchill, to be very quick in cutting off my
head; tor it is a question often debated by us
at Jomfbourg, whether one retains any sense af
ter being beheaded. I will therefore grasp this
knife in my.hand; if after my head is cut off
I Strike it towards you, it will Shew I have not
loir all sense : if I let it drop it will be a proof
tQ the contrary. Make haste therefore and de
cide the dispute." “ Thorchill, adds the histo
rian, cut off his head in a mod expeditious man
ner, bitt the knife, as might be expected, dropt
from his hand." The firth Shewed the fame
tranquility, and died rallying and jeering his e
nemies. The Sixth begged of Thorchill, that
h e mightxot be led to punishment like a Sheep ;
" Strike the blow in my face, said he, I will fit
frill without Shrinking ; and take notice whether
I once wink my eyes, or betray one sign of fear
in my countenance. For we inhabitants of
Jomfbourg are used to exercise ourselves in trials
of this Sort so as to meet the Stroke of death
without once moving." He kept his promise
before all the Spectators, and 'received the blow
without betraying the least sign of fear, or so
much as winking his eye£ The seventh, fays
the historian, “ was a very beautiful young man,
in the flower of his age. His long fair hair, as
fine as silk, floated in curies and ringlets on his
Shoulders. Thorelill aiked him what he thought
of death? I receive it willingly, said he, Since
I have fulfilled the greatest duty of life, and
have Seen all those put to death whom I would
not Survive. I only beg o f you one favour, not
to let my hair be touched by a Slave, or Stained
with my blood."
1 his constancy in the laS tmoments was not,
however the peculiar effect of the laws and edu
cation of the Jomfbourgians. The other Danes
had often given the fame proofs of intrepidity ;
or rather it was the geneial character of all the
inhabitants of Scandinavia. It was with them
an instance of Shameful pufillauimity to utter
upon such occasions the least groan, rr to change
countenance, but especially to Shed tears. The
Danes, lays Adam of Bremen, " are remark
able for this, that if they have committed any
crime, they had rather fuller death than blows.
There is no other punishment for them but ei
ther the ax or Servitude. As for groans, com
plaints, and other bemoanings of that kind, in
which we find relief, they were so detested by
the Danes, that they think it mean to weep for
their fins, or for the death of their dearelt rela
tions." But if a private soldier looked upon
tears as peculiar to weakness or Slavery, (heir
warriors, th • chiefs, all who aspired to fame and
glory, carried the contempt of death much far
ther. King Regner, who, as I have once before
observed, died tinging the pfeafure of receiving
death in the field of battle, cries out at the end
of a ftranza, "the hours of my lite are passed
away, I Shall die laughing." And many paf
lages in ancient hiGory plainly Shew that this
was not a poetical hyperbole. Saxo, Speaking
of a Single combat, fays, that one of the cham
pions fell, laughed and DIED,' an epitaph
as Short as energetic. An officer belonging to a
King of Norway, celebrating in verse the death
of his matter, concludes his eulogium with these
words, " it Shall here after be recorded in his
tories, that King Halfer died laughing." A
warrior having been thrown on his back, in
wrestling with his enemy, and the latter finding
him Self without his arms, the vanquished per
son promised to wait without changing his pos
ture, while he fetched a sword to kill him ; and
he faithfully kept his word. To die with his
arms in his hands was the vow of every free
man; and the pleasing idea they had of this
kind of death, would naturally lead them to
dread such as proceeded from disease and old
age. In the joy therefore that they teftified at
the approach ot a violent death, they might
frequently express no more than their real sen
timents, tho' doubtless it was sometimes mixed
with orientation. The general tenor of their
conduct proves that they were most commonly
Sincere in this; and such as know the power
which education, example and prejudice have
over men, will find no difficulty in receiving
the multitude of testimonies, which antiquity
has left us of their extraordinary valour.
Las Sunday a Gentleman arrived at Philadel
phia frrm Europe, voho brought a Dublin pa
per of the 2d of March), containing the folloiving
paragraphs. P, him vee learn that a large na
val force ivas coming out for America, and that
the armament %vas ordered to fail the lotb of A
pril.
L O N D O N, Feb. xB.
COMMISSIONS are iiTuing for im
mediately buying up in Ireland, for the
use of the navy, Soo calks of beef, 600 barrels
of pork, and great quantities of flour, salt but
ter, and potatoes.
Feb. 19. There will be five debarkations in
America in the spring ; one at Quebec, one at
1 ExtraA of a letter from Edinburgh, Feb. 17.'
" Seventeen thousand German troops are ex
pe&ed here in a few days on their way to Gree
nock, where they are to embark for America
They are to come up the Firth of Forth and u
land in Leith."
Feb. 21. The two frigates that were on Shore,
and the bne who loft her masts, arose entirely
from their being so badly manned, that they
could not manage them.
Feb. 22. Sir Peter Parker, with his Squa
dron, from Corke, bound to America, were
spoke with by Capt. Ward, of the John, who is
arrived at Bristol, from Denia, on the 17th inst.
in lat. 50 : 30, long. 7, at eight o'clock in the
morning, all well.
On Tuesday night, in the debate in the
House of Commons, on Mr. Fox's motion, Mr.
Cruger called the attention of the House parti
cularly to the conduct of administration, respec
ting the province ofNew-Ydrk^ and Shewed the
expediency of an enquiry why that colony had
been so long left neglected and unsupported,
and the friends of government there given up
to the resentment of rheir enemies, when by
timely aid that province might have been secur
ed to the interns of government, and the chain
ot American union broken. [A it thus, traitor,
thoufeveefl tby regard for tby native country ; bad
it not been forfueb ingrates, America badfill been
bappy ?]
T^ Hessians, Brunfwickets, Waldeckers and
Hanoverians, are to ^amount, it is said, to
20,000 men. 20,600 foreign troops, at qg l.
per man, comes to 900,000!. Transport Ser
vice to bring them to America will coft3sooool.
Ordnance and extraordinaries may be reckoned
at 300,000 l. more.
The embarkation in the spring will consist of
4§,000 men, English and foreigners, and to ren
dezvous at Portsmouth the lari day of March.
\ob GEORGE! Are these tly Commiffoners of
peace and reconciliation ?]
The transports to bring over 22,000 Ger
mans, Heflians, Brunfwickers, &c. are to be at
Stade on or before the 6th of next month.
" His treatment on board the Solebay, i
far different from the barbarous and cruel usage
he experienced in his passage from Quebec, be
ing then handcuffed and ironed in the mos
dreary part of the vessel, and bafelv infult^
with cruel and unmanly reflections by some offi
cers of the ship, nhom he challenged in Corn
wall, without receiving fatisfadtion.
" A fubfe i>tion' was begun this morning
among some friends of the cause, and near fif
ty guineas, collected to buy cloaths for his men
and neceharies for himfelf; and iflisetty can b
got of Capr.Williams to put live flock on board.
I can assure you, Col. Allen will bt exceeding
ly well provided. We this day sent a hampe
of wine, sugar, fruit, chocolate, &c. on boaro
for his immediate use, and to morrow intend o
prepare the sundry articles of which he fen: m
a lift. I inclofe you a rough co; yof his anfuc
to our letter, Should he have pe miffioa t
come on shore, he will be entertained by font
of the firft gentlemen of this city. I have nt
been refufed by a single person on the fubferip
Extract of a letter from (fork,
" The following occurrence must give fatic
faßion to the friends of fuffering America:
When Colonel Ethan Allen, with about fifty
other prisoners arrived in the Solebay, two gen
tlcmdn went on board to enquire into their situ
atioh, and to assure them of the disposition 0
Several gentlemen in this city to alleviate theb
diriteffes. Colonel Allen was so affected with
this instance of unexpected generosity, that the
expression of his gratitude could hardly find w
terance.
Feb. 24. This day about twelve o'clock, Ad
miral Graves arrived in town 'from Plymouth,
where he arrived in the Preston man of war,
from Bolton. He left that place the zdjnft.
and has brought an account, that on the 31st of
December, the Provincials attempted to take
Quebec by storm, but were defeated with the
lots of 80 men, and upwards of 300 taken pri
soners, among whom were General Montgome
ry, his Aid-de-Camp, Secretary, &c.
The companies belonging to the regiments cf
guards laying in the Savoy barracks, had yes
terday ig men drafted from each for the Ame
rican service; and every man who offered him
felf as a volunteer was to be allowed whatever is
paid to recruits on their firri lifting.
Government have b^en/fo diftrerfed for troops
(foreigners) that they have actually taken a
Single battalion of goo men, in pay from the
prince of Waldeck, and another of the fame
complement from the Duke of Mecklenburgh.
Extrafl of a letter from Portfmontb, Feb. 23.
" Arrived the Carcass bomb, which failed
from Cork the 12th inst. with Sir Peter Parker,
and 42 fail of men of war and transports, with
whom he parted company on the 18th, in<
hard gale of wind, when Sir Peter had but 2;
fail left with him. The Carcass has loft her
mizen-maft, and thrown many of her Stores o #
ver board."
Letters from Caffa, by yerierday's mail ad
vise, that the body of 12,000 Hessians, taken
into English pay, .are commanded by M. Hei
ster, Lieutenant-General, and that it will be
composed of rhe regimentof Guards, and that
of the Hereditary Prince and Prince Charles,
with the regiments of Werguneau, Detfourtb,
Donop, Lolberg, Kniphaufen, Trimbach, Mit
bach, Rall, Stein, Wjfboch, Hayne and Bu
neau. The grenadiers of the above regiments
are to form a diffeient corps, commanded by
Colonel Donop, and to the above are to be add
ed dome companies' of Cannoneers, and Foot
Chauffeurs, and private letters ° from Hamburg
inform us, that they are on their march to em
bark at Stade.
New-York, one in New England, and two t®
the southward.