The New York packet, and the American advertiser — New York [N.Y.], 1776-03-14 00:00:00, page 1

to above. ..
It is said we are indebted to Croat-Britain for
the settlements of the colonies. Ihe truth is,
when they were difovered it was the effect of
• accident, concurring with the dilpofition of the
hardy adventurer. The settlement was made
by persons who had no great reason to be oblig
ed to King or Parliament; they were perfect
ed at home, and retired from mankind to a wil
derness : There they fuifered much, and rilqued
all. If they obtained grants from the King, it
could be only of security from further opprefli
ons of his hand; more he could not grant; e
ven this was for a while refufed. Ihe land was
inhabited by natives to whom God had given
the property and dominion : Of these natives
the property was bought by the settlers, who
cleared the country, cultivated the foil, and grew
and prospered in 'the arts and in government,
without any expence to the King or parliament
. of Britain. ' Itis said we are indebted to Great-
Vritain for protection from our foes. It fhoukt
be said, we have to charge Britain with all the
foes and wars we ever had. In the infancy of
the colonies, they were thought of little value,
not worth contending for. The very fettling
of them has been treated with neglect and con
tempt. Then they were in no danger. When
their consequence afterwards became more ap
] arent, and indeed from their firft origin to the
i resent time, they have been so much advanced
in population, wealth, and every advantage, as
i<i be under no apprehensions from any of their
neighbours : And had they, at any intermediate
Mr. Printer,
Fhrfe to tu^ifo th?folding plain Hints, and
&^woO°^^ , be more
Surprizing than the great
Ichain of events which have
N Otaken place in the American
fi^&i % Monies within the so
s^^% Copals of a few years. IT
s"a^y^^w/*''v libly no indances occur in
.the hil&y'of mankind, in which the universal
opinion has been more frequently opp^o. It
is no wonder then that we now find ourtelve^ at
alofs where to fix, That th«, % c,n do no
wrong ; that the interests of Great-^irain and
' the colonies were the fame, reciprocal and infe
' parable ; that ihe could not injure us withou
. insuring h^felf, and therefore, we were fate;
that She was & tender parent, in whom we ff ht1
confide implicitly '; that foe was tbef/^n up
port of freedom and the Prot^ant religion ; that
the Kina was hhpofed upon by His ft;.^
that a change in adminift'ration would rectify -
vils complained of ; that the abilities and weight
of bur friends in parliament would prevent ex
tremities ; that our friends throughout the nati
on would return a better parliament than the
. last ; that the ad declaring their right to tax us
in all cases whatever, would not be carried into.
execution, but remain a harmless letter; thut
the several repeals and seeming alterations in
their plan of conduct, proved a relinquuhnient
of'any evil intentions ; that the power 0l de
tain was such as we could not oppole through
bnefingle campaign; that our provincial troops
could not face the regularity and dilcipbrie of
British forces; that we have no reiources to
carry on a war; that jealousies andopponticu
of interests would ever prevent a junction of tpe
colonies. These and a thousand other opinionsl
in succession have .taken full pofleffim ofr u 3;
and' after a little while we have found oo'deives;
obliged to relinquish them. They were toe
grafts which might be expended to fry from
that attachment, to, and veneration for trie idea?
we had been taught to form of the wildorn, ju
stice, and .tenderness of Britain. It nas ahb
been, supposed, that we are so connected with,
and dependent on Great-Britain, that repeated^
injuries committed with an avowed intent to
dothem, and more ; and that plundering, mur
der, executions and conflagration ;in fhoit, that
all the havock of halt rs, fire, fivord and tamine,
cannot destroy the debt of gratitude and justice
Me owe to taat date, or make it our interest to
dissolve the connection.
Let us examine this matter : polTibly the fails
ton which this opinion is founded, may bear the
enquiry not much better than the facts referred
VOLL N U M B.ii.
THE,
AWe®^^^® CT' t
I^^Wingurß M A T^lil HEX^
AN D's V T HE
A M ERIC A Ng a ADVERTISED.
T H U R S D A Y,. . M A R C IL 14 th, 1776.
ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour at 19 s. per Ct.
A Wheateri Loaf of the finest FLOUR, to
weigh 1 lb. 8 1-2 oz. for 4 Coppers.'
rabbled Niv. 2,177 g.
Printed by S A MUEL L OUDON, in Water-'Strert, between the Coffee-House and the Old Slip.
Thursday, 10 Min. after 4I
Friday, % § Min. after §|
Saturday, 3 Min after 6;
Sunday, <9 Mm. after 6/
HIGH.WATER at NEW-YORK.
period extended their trade generally to. all parts
of Europe, it is possible that the interetbof eve
ry part in our commerce, might have prevented
any ohe power from oppressing or injuring us ;
even Britain herfelf would have fourid it her
interest to protest our peace and trade. But our
forefathers were fond of the pageantry of a
King, arid a^acbed to the country that gave
them birrh : They chose the King of England
to be their fupremc heady and flattered them
selves, that though they were perfected at
home, yet, that he would leave to them peace,
liberty 'and fafety in the wilderness. Thus we
have been involved in every British war. Even
a dispute in Hanover wat fuffirient to deluge^
America in blood ; and till the year 1756, 110
war had any particular reference in its princi
ples to American interefo, Nor ought we to be
charged even with that. However, the Parha-1
merit of" Britain has done us the justice to ac-1
' knowledge we then overdid our proportion, and
• they have refunded accordingly. In all in-'
frances our chad's have by, them been left un-.
guarded, arid bur frontiers defencelefs. When
France and Spain scoured our fheres, because we •
were connected with Britain; uve have been left
without a fihgle (hip of war. When we traf
ficked with the Indians back for their land, or
for peace, or repelled their ihburfions, uwas at
our own expehce,. though in many cales they
: werh set on us by the foes of Britain. Shall a
ny commercial advantages which we have en
joyed be urged as a ground of gratitude or retri
bution ? Letthe most zealous advocate for con
tinual dependence ' on Britain, point out a single
inftarice ofpreteren'ce given by tli^t court to the
American trade if he can'; and while he 'hunt's
the rulty records in vain for any such, let him
not tu'n deer unnoticed the numberless aCts pal
fed to-reftria our free commerce, to clog with
impositions and duties, to difcourare manufac
tures and employments for our poor, and to give
advantages, at our cod, to the lordly Wefi-Indi
ans. In a few words, the colonies have paid'
more to Britain, in a course of trade, by giving,
a greater price for goods of inferior value, &c.
than if they had gone to other European mar
kets, than any claims the British partisan can
feign.
It is said, that under this connexion and de
pendance we have grown and thriven. That
we have thriven amazingly, is true # ^The pre
sent state of these colonics is the admiration of
all who have given attention to the prog'refs of
mankind, of arts and faiences. But was it be
cause our trade was reftrifled? Was it because
we have never as men, had the full improvement
of our lands and property in our power ? Was it
because as societies or governments we had not
the full and complete powers of legislation a
mong ourselves? Let this account be fairly flat
cd. Let us only make an experiment of an
open trade, for half the time we have Shackled
ourfelvcs with confinement to, as it were, one
port. Let us try what improvements we may
be drawn into by a general correspondence
with the wh°le world, with people who will re
quire from Its every different article our lands,
our different climates, can produce; and from
whom may be had directly, at firft hand, every
requisite for us. Let us have access to the low
ed and best market for every commodity. Let
this be the case, but for half the time the colo
nies have already extfled, and the doubts and
druggles too, concerning independance, will be
at an end. Let all those people who are now
groaning under oppression and poverty, in Eu
rope, know that America is become an asylum
for the injured; and is capable of giving el] -
couragefnent to the induftriStis and Skilful in e
very art and business of life, and perhaps the
ihoft sanguine expectations would fall vastly.
Short of the multitude of honed, naive, and in
genious citizens who would in a few years fioc^
into this country. America has been hitherto
little known abroad. Even our brethren in
Britain, whom we left but a few years ago, and
with whom we have a constant intercourse,,
know but little of us and our Situation. The'
o'?er parts of Europe mud have been inconociv-?
ably lels acquainted with it. The case is now
greatly altered. Our late trai-fa&ioos have.at?
trailed the attention even of the commoq,pefipte
of mod of the European states; the lovers id li-
IMondays A .<4 Min; after 7
1 Fuefday, 4^ Min. after 8
Wednesday, 40 Min. after 9
New Moon, 19th.
berty abroad have their eyes turned towards us ;
even to the head of the: Rhine/ it is fcmi, they
applaud our virtuous efforts, and with u* Suc
cess. The fruits of our fuccete they will wish
with us to enjoy. A free and general mter
courfe will throw the -doors-ot information and
- opportunity open. Podiblr ft micht not total
ly depopulate the old world; but, without doubt,
it would multiply the r^hhons now ia. this new
one. Let it be granted we have grown under
the connection and dependence contended for;
are we therefore involved in a debt even of gra
titude ? Be it so : What obligations then is Bri
tain under to us?' Our connection with them
has been acknow'edged to be of the utmo'licon-
Sequence to their trade, to their well-being.
Thislis the language of their bed writers on
commerce, and of almost every act of parliament
in which America is mentioned. Before they
had colonies what was their fleet? flow - great
was their dependence on other nations for the
mod neceffitry articles to carry on a war, even for
their own defence, and for their manufactories ?
It has been Lid by themselves, that one person
in America, fopported four in Britain. Allow
one in Britain to be fopported by every per Son
in America, and so Striking an indance cannot
be earned, in which we have received benefits
from her. It is not necessary to depreciate the
advantages derived from the connection ; let it
be only understood, that they have been reci
procal, and at lead equal on the part of Britain:
This destroys the idea of any debt or any duty.
As of inferiors, if a religious fuhmiffirin to this
connexion has rendered our growth and profpe-'
rity less flourishing, than they would have been
in a general connection, it can only be compar
ed to the Situation of a tree' in a little earth be
tween two rocks, which, though it looks fair,
and grows to a certain Size, yet, had it been able
to spread its roots, and iinbibe the nourishment
of an extended foil, might soon become the larg
est tree in' the toted.
Tbe following is a Speech of an bonefl, fcnfble
andfeirited Parmer, addreffedto an afl'embly' &
of bis imgbbours, ox bis engaging in the Con
tinental Service. A
My Friends and Countrymen,
I Have observed that some of you are a little'
Surprised that I, with so many inducements
as I have to retrain at home, Should have resolv
ed to quit my family and my farm for the fa
tigues and dangers of war. I mean you Should
'be perfectly Satisfied as to my, motives. lam
an American; and am determined to be free.
I was born free, and have never forfeited myl
birthright; nor will I ever, like the infatuated
Son of Ilaac, fellft for a mess of pottage : I will
part with my life Sooner than with my liberty;
for I prefer gn honourable'death to the miserable
and defpic^ble exigence pf a Slave.
Tiie tyrant who would rob me of my proper
ty, because he thinks he has life f>r it, and is
able to take it from me, would as soon, for the
fame reason rob me qf my life, if it flood in his
way: but it is God Almighty, who gave me
my life, and my property, as a necefliiry means,
among others, of preferring and enjoying it;
and it is he only that hath an absolute and un
limited power to take either or both away. Be
ing the Creator and Supporter, the perfect
Ruler and Judge of nl^ tire earth, he only can
do no wrong: Should therefore any creature
whatsoever, or number of them, dare to usurp
this sole prerogative of heaven over me, I could
neither answer it to my Maker, nor mv con
science, nor my honour, if I did not refill, tho'
it were to the last drop of my blood. It is in the
free enjoyment of those buffings uncontrolled
by any human powers (except so far as the
voice of the society in general, of which we are
members, may have resigned a part for the pre
servation of the whole) that civil liberty sub
stantially coniifteth. Let no one therefore won
der, if of all earthly benefits my Creator hath
bestowed on me, I do mod esteem my liberty.
Anarchy, indeed, I deprecate, but tyranny in
finitely more. The reason is obvi us: the for-,
mer, like a common forfeit, occasioned by an ir
regular and intemperate indulgence of the bo
dily appetites, if but a little helped by Simple
medicine, will almost always, as I may fay, cure
" icieh : whereas the latter, like a derodring can-
PRICE-CURRENT, in NEW-YORK. t,'
Wheat per Bushel, gs. qd.l
Flour, - - -18 s. od.
.Brown Bread, - irs. odri
Wed-India Rum, 6s. od.
New-England do. 4S. od.j
IMufeovado Sugar, 60s. od. 1
I Single refin'd do. is. 2d.
hVol'atfes, - - -..„. 6d.
Beef, per Barrel, 60s. cd.
,} Pork, - - - 655. od.
ccr, the longer it is let alone, without the ap
plication of violent . equities, the tailer and deep
er it will root itself into the frame, until h
gnaws out the very life of the body. Govern
ment is neither of these; it is an ordinance of
heaven to dedrain the ufurparions of wicked
men, to secure us in the enjoyments of our tn
total rights, and to promote the bigheft political
interests and happiness of society.. The claims
therefore of the Biitiffo Parliament, of a power
to bind us in all cases whatsoever; to give a
way our property in what measure and for what
purposes they please, and to dispose of our lives
as they think proper, when we have no voice in
the legislation, nor constitutional j ower allowed
us to check their meft violent proceedings, are
not of the nature of government, but in the
true and Strict sense of the word, Tyranny.
Of the tendency and operation of this diabo
lical system, our country hath already had too
deep < nd atfcaing experience, not to be sensible
of them ; and it requires not the Spirit of Super
natural prophecy to fortel the eng of them,
Should they not be sea onably cbmrouled; con
trolled, did I fay ? Bleft be the Spirit of Ame
rican liberty, wisdom and valour! They have
been controlled; bur, my friends, it is evident
we can never have rfafety, liberty and peace,
until by an unremitting and vigorous application
of the axe, now laid to the foot of the tree, we
have totaliyoverturned in the colonies, the power
that would demolish us. Not to speak bf the un
wearied art and assiduity of the British king and
parliament, these twelve years past, t^faften on
us the Shackles of Slavery, Jet me only remind
you of the bale and cruel measures to Subjugate
ns, Since we have been obliged to r^ke u,aims
in our defence: What frone have they left un
turned? What device to ruin us, though never
so inean, barbarous, and bloody, such as no
heart but that ot a. devil or a tyrant can refrain
Shuddering ,at, have, they not pursued? gave
not all the powers of Europe been meanly court
ed and bribed not to Supply us with the means
of refinance? Hath not the n^ft barbirour na
tion in it been applied to, to assist them with at
leAd 26,000 Savages to complcat their intended
miflacrc? Have they not attempted to Spirit up
the Indian lavages to ravage our frontiers, and
murder, after their inhuman manner, our de
fenceless wives and children? Have not cur
negro Slaves been enticed to rebel against their
matters, and arms put into their hands to mur
der them? Havenot the king of EnHanN. cn 1
Slaves, the Hanoverians been .emptied? Ard
were nst the poor Canadians made flarm, that
they might be made fit infirumentty with order
Slaves "and forages, to mage ila^.au4 more
wretched beings than fava^rs % qs?
Now, what kind cfleconciQiion car! be rr%
fonably expected With a power so baieN, so cru
elly, so industriously and obthmeA ^rr n car
.ddrtruction ? In Short, we have uo aherm^E •
left us, but to tight or He; if tnere % be any
medium, it is Slavery. And ever curled he the
man who will fnbmit to it! I will not. But
who would ever have imagined that a people,
who a few years ago Lifted their brethren of
Great Britain with their blood and treasure, to
humble the power of France and Spain, and
who, from theirfoft exigence as a people, have,
by their trade and indirtry been enriching and
exalting them above all the nations or the world ;
who, I fay, would have imagined that this ve r ff
people fnould by these their very brethren, be
now reduced to so dreadful an alternative: Yet,
hear, ye Heavens, and give ear, O Earth, and
bear witness, this is the return we have received
for all our love, loyalty, trenfure and blood !
Had we begun this quarrel, had we demand
ed some new privileges, udknow n to the ctmfti
tution,or Some commercial licences, .incompatible
with the interest of the empire, had we presumed
to legislate for Great Britain, or plotted with'
'the Bourbon family, to reinstate the execrable
race of the Stuarts, and |fed to arms unprovoked
to accomplish these d^figns, there would then
be some plausible apology for the fever ft hoftihg
treatment we have received. But, what have
we done ? iVhen alarmed, ere we had ver refled
from the toils of the last war, l y new unconsti
tutional demands of revenue, we afersed our
rights, and petitioned for justice: Was this a
crime ? As Itllcor.T.rational features cf diferent
forms were repeatedly enacted, we repeated our
[Fine Salt, - - - Nyeo?
I Coarfe Salt, - 4 3'l 9;N
llndian Corn, per Buffi, 3s. th.