The New York packet, and the American advertiser — New York [N.Y.], 1776-03-21 00:00:00, page 1

ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour at 19 s. per Ct.
AWheaten Loaf of the fineft FLOUR, to
weigh i lb. 8 1-2 oz. for 4 Coppers.
Published Nor. 2,177 g. '
_„,*^^ SFTER premising, that in the
^s^fos^ following efl'ay you are by
I s^s § $ no means to expert a formal
&, § A Oanfwer to the piece signed .
« 3 s^s ft & Rationales in your paper of
^s^s^sl the 7th infant;J would in
s'^^"*^Af * f°" n y° u ' th " ™. a compa
ny where t'^: important doctrine of independ
ency was thoroughly agitated, a few evenings
&^, I gathered the plan of the moderate man
re be, for bearing arms and repelling the foice
that might be sent against America, till Great
Britain would grow weary of the enterprize,
and be willing to make up with us on equitable
terms. This he urged to be necessary Tor the
Teafons commonly produced to maintain that
position, as out defeent from Britain, our con
iiedion by blood, interest, language, laws, con
stitutions, religion, commerce,&c. with its inha
bitants ; our need of the national protection, if
attacked by any foreign power, and the lullaby
©1 our having been a very happy and flourish
ing people during our dependence upon the pa
rent state.
To all thisit was answered, that there were cer
tain times, when minor dates, as well as per
sons, became capable to judge and add for them-
Glves ; that the obligations for parental care
and protection could never extend so fir, as to
entitle the former to oppress the latter in de
mands of an indefinite contideration for such
favour; and finally, that unless the minor state
should at some certain time be allowed to have
power to debate and fettle the quantum due for
pre^&ien, and choose whether to comply with
such certain terms, or give up the protection of
fered, they were by no means on an equal foot
ing with natural persons, who, at a moderately
early age, were at full liberty to leave their pa
rents, and do the best they were able for them
selves. America, it was observed, was not sent
out a colony at the charge of Great Britain, and
for all the protection afforded her, might well
be esteemed an orphan instead of a child; and
with all the clamour raised on that head, with
intention to lull the people into submission to
the most ruinous exactions, were a fair account
stated, it would be found that the balance in
favour of America would amaze all mankind!
It was further observed, that the efforts used to
persuade the Americans they are in a state of
perpetual non-agc and dependence difeovers
lomething very different from maternal affec
tion or common justice. If minors labour for
parents, thev are also supposed to be provided
for in all things by them, and to become lords
of all they psffefs at certain periods. Here the
parallel fails respecting states, each of which is
presumed immortal. It remaining, therefore,
that the American flats# are neither the pro
vinces, colonies nor children of Great Britain,
any more than of Holland, Ireland or Germa
ny, and that from their very settlement Britain
tneaned rather to milk than to suckle them, the
pretended right to controul the manufactures
find commerce, to fell them the lands at a heavy
purchase, and fubjed to an enslaving quit-rent,
which were in great part gained by their own
blood and treasure, is founded in presumption
of superior force rather than solid reason. Lux
ury (and the fearcli of ways and means to sup
port it) is arrived to such a pitch in Britain,
that the junto, who have usurped a tyrannic
power, want provinces to drain of wealth, as
their patrons, the debauched Romans, had.
Many are found so base, as to be willing their
countrymen should become tributary to such
vultur s, if they might have a small pittance
for gathering the tax-yea, even on condition
it were demanded at the point of the bayonet.
Here is the true foundation of the claim of
Great Britain, and here is the undeniable cause
•f the support this claim finds in America !
What then are the honest, industrious and inde
pendent freemen of America to do in this case?
My guide I have so long followed tells us, De
clare independence immediately! Issue a mani
tefto, containing a full view of our rights, our
grievances, and the unwearied application we
have made for their redress! Apply to the state,
es whole readhiefs and power to assist us we have
aa undoubted affuraace. A neglect to improve
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A M E A I C A N A D VERTI S E R.
THURSDAY,MARCH 21st, 17/6.
Mr. Printer,
Printed by SAMUEL LOUDON, in Water-Street, between the Coffee-House and the Old Slip.
Thursday, 33 Min. after 10
Friday, 2g Min. after 11
Saturday, 17 Min. after 12
Sunday, 6 Min. after 1
the openings given us for that purpose m iy in
spire those statesmen with resentment, and in
vite them to accept overtures from our enemies,
and then we may indeed become Provinces ! If
we can withstand the tyrant of Britain withold
allies, we can, inconteftibly, better withftund him
with an ally that has ever commanded a very
complaisant behaviour from him. This ally
can with for nothing more, than such fliare of
our commerce as will be convenient to both
parties ; and as that mull be rather a g-a than
loss to us, we must be stupid beyond conception
to delay the measure. England has long pro
te&ed Portugal for a much left lucrative trade
than we would carry on with France. Men
must be very blind, who cannot fee the fairnels,
the openness and fafety of this obvious road to
honour, wealth, freedom and internal happiness.
But how many ways does Divine Providence
invite us to emancipate ourselves from a state,
which, remained in, would be the ruin of our
posterity, as certainly as they became human
beings. Let 'prejudiced mortals dream what
they may, and confound tlie ignorant with their
jargon, freedom and dependency are opposite
and irreconcileable terms; and dependency on
a power, over which we have no influence nor
controul, is slavery, or I am yet ignorant ofthe
ter,:.. The petty tyrants of every country al
ways wish to have the people dependent on such
a power; for under colour of authority from
that power, they can carry on their oppreflions,
vexations and depredations, and when they are
expostulated withon the occasion, they are for
ty indeed they are put upon so disagreeable a
service, but what can they do? such are the
express orders. I am widely mistaken, if nine
tenths of the clamour railed against American
independency do not arise from that quarter.
They tell you, " they had rather be governed
by the mild and wife laws of Great Britain than
the decrees of an American mob." The truth
is, neither they nor their principals, with to be
governed by any laws that will effectually se
cure the liberties and property of the people
from their ravenous clutches. If the people, by
any means, obtain an adequate share in the le
gislature of this country, they know their visions
of golden mountains, and millions of acres of
tenanted foil, will all vanish, and themselves re
main in the despised rank of their honest and
contented neighbours. I am apt to think, how
ever, that both principals and accomplices for
once overshot themselves, and carried the mat
ter too far for a fafe and honourable retreat.
Circumstances have strangely co-operated to open
feenes which no human foretight could have
viewed in the full latitude. And what is there
row wanting to complete the triumph of the
friends of human nature, but a little fortitude,
patience and perseverance? All Europe must
allow, that while America was in the greatest
good humour with her old mother, a feheme
was laid to keep up a large landing army in her
capital towns, and to tax her at pleasure for the
support of it. They fee that, from time to time,
the most fraudulent and violent measures have
been taken to support their entirely unprece
dented claim, till at last, drained of their nation
al troops, they have applied for affiflance to 0-
ther nations. By the law of nations, we are
difeharged from our allegiance tye moment the
army was posted among us without our consent,
or a single farthing taken from us in like man
ner; cither of these being fundamental subver
sions of the constitution. It remains entirely
with ourselves to have ample justice dene to us.
We have nothing to do but declare off, and ap
peal to the droit des gens. A very refpeclable
power has given as unequivocal proofs as can
be wished, of her disposition to right us. Even
the body of the people manifeft the warmest de
sire to form a friendly alliance; witness the as
siduous refped ihewn to a private gentleman,
whom they only fufpe&ed to be a Delegate from
the Congress. And on the other hand, what
does all the hurry of appointing commissioners,
and no one knows what, on the other fide the
British Channel indicate? Betides the difeove
ries of Caflandra, I will venture to affirm, that
our ambitious master at length begins to fear in
good eameft, that the firing drawn too tight will
break, and leave all his colonies to make new
bargains for themselves. Obstinate and mulish
as he is, he cannot longer persuade himfelf that
HIGH WATER at NEW-YORK.
Monday, <4 . Min. after 1
Tuesday, §2 Min. after 2
Wednesday, 42 Min. after 3
First Quarter 26th.
Dvo such potent communities as France and
North America will neglect such a fortunate
opportunity, to pay themselves the prodigious
funis he has damaged them in a few pad years.
Aye, fay feme moderate men, that is out* tear,
that France will be for invading Canada or the
Floridas, and thus we (hall for ever be involved
in war. Nothing, I confefs is more probable,
if France can have nothing to expect from us
man amicable and commercial way; but e con
tra. if we call off her ancient enemy, there fill
remain islands, which, from ,resent appearance s,
(he has some eye upon. From what has hap
pened in the Mediterranean, it seems the is now
no ways Ikittifh about affronting Oceana on her
own element.
I cannot express my contempt ofthofe wretches
who fay, let us by all means defend ourselves
against the violence of administration till we
bring them to reasonable terms, and then unite
again, as we (hall ever stand in great need ofthe
protection of Great Britain. I verily believe a
party among us feels much need of foreign pro
tection ; but a people who can make the p/oud
eft tyrant in Europe talk of Hanoverians, Hes
sians, Ruffians, Scotch-Dutch, and half an caft
ern world, even while they are in the very in
fancy of preparation for defence, need not keep
such a puling and whining about protection.
I must again exclaim, I cannot have patience
with such inconsistent mortals, as dissuade us
from accepting ^ffiftance f; onh power who has
at present no polhble claim upon us, hor can e
ver demand more than we voluntarily and ex
pressly stipulate, and that when we. are in ac
tual war with a power, by themselves called the
most formidable in Europe, and yet press us to
light that power alone, and bring her to terms,
that we may enjoy her protection, It such do
not with to have us reduced, rather than protec
ted, by the arms of Great Britain, I am a no
vice in politics.
One word concerning these august Commis
sioners, we hear so much of every day. Those
Americans, who flatter themselves their million
bodes any advantage to the country in general,
will find themselves as much deceived as they
have hitherto been by an, similar declaration.
The true state of the fafe is limply this, their
efforts to subdue us to their absolute command
have founded through every court in Christen
dom, yea in all quarters ofthe world, and they
cannot keep themselves from doubting of the
success. Now a formidable armament is to
come, and with them the Commissioners to re
ceive submission, and grant pardons on the most
humiliating terms they can reduce us to, that
they may let Europe know their groat power
in reducing their rebellious fubjeffs to a sense
of their duty. They are certain their time is
Ihort, they therefore aim to put as good a face
upon the matter as possible, but at any rate to
put an end to it for the present, dill retaining
so much acknowledged power as will fink us in
to slavery, whoever they find a proper oppor
tunity to exercise it.
Finally, by the mod unconflitutional, cruel
and unjust measures, they have driven us to
arms; we have emitted millions on the
credit es the United Colonies, those millions
mud be funk by the power which issued them,
or a fund of the like kind can never again be e
dablifhed in America. Had our enemies no 0-
ther object in view than the diferedit of the
Continental currency, it would be fufficient to
engage them to fend a goed number of emissaries,
on any pretence which might give them oppor
tunity to effect it. One depofite we have in our
hands, which will solidly fund all the money
we will need during the conted, which mud in
evitably be given up by the mod favourable ne
gotiation we can poflibly flatter ourselves to ex
pert. Surely a declaration of confiscation on
one fide will warrant reprisal on the other. This
is not only just in point of the present quedion,
but absolutely necessary to keep the power of
the Crown within any possible limits, which
cannot be, while it is pofleffed of millions of
acres of land which it may dispose of at plea
sure. All parties agree we mud one time separate
from Britain. Set us back to sixty three, and
we will be as lucky as a farmer, who should
have All his houses, fences, &c. destroyed, and
the fields and meadows cleared in that time
grown up again. CANDIDUS.
Wheat per Buihcl, §s. gd.
Flour, - - -16 s. od.
Brown BreaQ, -14 s. od.
Weft-India Rum, 6s. od.
New-England do. 4s. od.
PRICE-CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
Mufcovado Sugar, 60s. od.
Single refin'd do. is. 3d..
Moiafus, - - - 3s. 6d.
Beef, per Barrel, 60s. od.
Pork, - - - 655. od.
REMEMBER the Stamp-nil, by which
immense Turns were to be yearly extorted
from you.
Remember the declaratory a&, by 'which a
power was aflumed of binding you in all caei
whatsoever, without your consent.
Remember the broken promise of the Miai
ftry*, never again to attempt u tax on Ame
rica.
Remember the duty ad.
Remember the massacre at Boston, by British
soldiers.
Remember the ruin of that once flourishing
city, by their means.
Remember the massacre at Lexington.
Remember the burning of Charleftown.
Remember General Gage's infamous breach
of faith with the people of Boflon.
Remember the cannonading, bombarding and
burning of Falmouth.
l\emember the ihrieks and cries ofthe women
and children.
Remember the cannonading of Stonington
and Biiftol.
Remember the burning ofJameftown, Rhode
Iflaad.
Remember the frequent insults of New
port,
Remember the broken ch?,tcrs. - —t
Remember the cannonade of Hampton.
Remember the a^ for fcreeuing and eucou-
r ¥ h g your murderers.
Remember the cannonade of New-Yoik.
Remember the altering your eftabliihed jury
laws.
Remember the hiring foreign troops against
you.
Remember the rejecting of Lord Chatham's
Mr. Hartley's and Mr. Burke's plans of conci
liation.
Remember the rejeAing of all your nume
rous humble petitions.
Remember the contempt with which the,
spoke of you in both Houses.
Remember the cowardly endeavour to pre
vent foreign nations fupplyjng you with arms
and ammunition, when they themselves knew
they intended coming to cut your throats.
Remember their hiring savages to murder
your farmers with their famih-c.
Remember the bribing negro slaves to assas
sinate their masters.
Remember the burning of Norfolk f.
Remember their obliging you to pay treble
duties, when you dame ti tr^de with the coun
tries you had helped them .to conquer %
Remember their depriving you of all trade in
the fiflieries, you had equally with them spent
your blood and treasure to acquire.
Remember their old rellri&ions on your
- woollen manufactures, your hat-making, vour
iron and steel forges and furnaces.
Remember their arbitrary Admiralty Courts.
Remember the inhuman treatment of the
brave Col. Allen, and the irons he was sent in
to England.
Remember the long habitual base venality of
British Parliaments.
Remember the corrupt, putrified state of that
nation, and the virtuous, found, healthy flat#
of your own young constitution.
Remember the tyranny of Mezentius, who
bound living men race to face with dead ones,
and the effect of it §.
Remember the obduracy and unforgiving spi
rit of the tyrant, evident in the treatment of hie
own brothers.
Remember that an honourable death is pre
ferable to an ignominious life; and never for
get what you owe to yeurfelves, your families
and your posterity.
* la Lord Hid/borougb's circular letter,
f This and all the before-mentioned, were opces
dcfexeelefs towns, which, by the laws of war,
jbould always b^feared.
* An afl of parliament, 14 Geo. 111. laving a
duty of three pence per gallon on all spirits imported
into Canada from Britain; and nine pence iffron,
any of the North-American colonies.
§ The cbrrapticn ofthe one poisoned the oftcr.
A MERI C A N $!
Fine Salt, - - - ? None.
Coarse Salt, - - 3s. tyd
Indian Corn, per Buffi. 3s. 6d.