The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-12-15 00:00:00, page 2

TO VL ON, September, if!!.
'T{ f/FRS'Vtterfo date I 2oti August lass, written
U by offers whose veracity and military merit,
are well known, do all agree in the circumflan
cesof the due de Crilion's descent on the bland of Mi
norca: they mention particularly that his arrival was
perfectly uuenpe&ed. Theparritviars of the t^pediti
or are the following: yesterday being the 19th, we
landed off the island of Minorca, after a passage of 30
days from Cadiz. At firft the winds were favourable
to us for in three days we had paffrd the Straights;
our fleet'confittiug of 105 fail, among which -two were
of ,o^tiw&, five frigates, fix % h>ecs, and fix bomb vef
^fels In fight of Carthagena, toe wind became quite con
^r^y, and obliged ^s to come to for 17 daysin a road.
Afterwards the winds permitting, we proceeded on our
voyage; bet calms coming on we were did retarded ;
h<-A% er, about tire latitude of Malaga the wind favour
ed us, and in three days brought usin light of Minorca.
Ti^ ardor of the gener#! and of the troops al this
momtnt was such, as to make us forget the length and
tedioufuefirof our voyage. Every thing was prepared
for tee defeeut, and if trie winds had not b^en Wronger
^m uud upon this coat land the difembarkatipu of
t / troops thereby reu cred long and troublesome, we
would nave perfectly furprized the enemy ; for |they
did not know in the leak of our approach, neither
3d expert us The command r in chief having pre
viogfly concerted the plan of operations, and given'll
his officers We mofl .particular inhrudionc, the decent
was mhde in tire following manner: 1. Some veffds of
war commanded by don Diego Quevedo were difpaich
ed, before the convoy could be perceived, fer to block
tip P rt Matron, and prevent any vessels escaping. 2.Se
veral other veffeb o war, Commanded by don Psdro
Canaveral, and by don Antonio Ortego, were sent to
fhgt up in like ma ner the ports of Fornelia and Cita
della. 3. 'A long boat manned with tailors and grena
diers, under the command of an officer of infantry, was
'Tent before to reconnoitre tire coast of the bay of Muf
theto, the intended danling place. 4. Several long
' boa's belonging to the squadron of don Bonaventura
-Moreno, landed the dude Crillon, followed by his
-brigade major and aid de camps ; this general w,s at
<he head o' a brigade of grenadiers, and the volunteers
©fr Gaclenki, commanded by the mirechal de camp the
marquis de Cagigal. 5. At the fame time, don Felix,
fecund in command, and don Louis de las Cafas, dff
-embarked several regiments, 6. A third division com
pof d of .grenadiers, chafleurs, and dragoons a foot,
Quder the command of colonel tire marquis de Aviles,
took poffeffiot )of the town of €it*de|la and of the forts
^hat defended the -entrance of x<e port, by forming
' them- 7 As soon as a d scent was effeded at the bay
rof Mufcheto, a brigade of grenadiers and chaffeurs, un
der the marquis de Pen&fol, son of the due d'Ofuna,
were ordered to proceed, either by land or water to
seize upon Fornella, and to flurm the two forts which
defend the entrance of this port. This decent was co
hered by several veliels. of war, commanded by don Bo
naventura de Moreno. 8. During this time, don Baltha
z rde Perma covered the brigade of Savoy on their land -
ringat the bay of Alcofar, a league and a half from Ma
hon: don Antonia Ortego covered that of the marquis
d'Avile.4, in the environs of Citadelia; and don Pedro
Carnaveraj was to cover that of the marquis of Pene-
Eel, if it i:ad been necessary for this detachment to have
-gone by sea to Fornella. 9. Thirty twotran ports car
rying artillery, famines, gabions, powder, prervifions,
hosp tal bores, &c- were arranged in the rear of the
two principal disembarkations at Mufcheto and Alco
far, in Rier to put it out of the power of the enemy,
to judge which was to be the true smack.
From this plan o; descent, which could not be so com
, p'e e!y executed as willed, owing to the contrary winds,
: we may judge how much more fuccef&ful it would have
been, if t e brgiade of Savoy had not been prevented
rirom effe&ig a landing for 36 hour§, by the bad wea
ver. Toe two bays, de la Mufeheto and d'Alcofar,,
are one league and a half from fort St. Philip, and a
boot the fame diflance ran? eac' ; other, and if the di
.v fi in at Alcofar could have effected alindingabthe fame
time si h that, at Mufcheto, they w uld have prevented
the English troops which were at Mahon from retiring
into the fort St Philips; tut the brigade of Savoy
could not etfed a landing witi thereft of the army,and
the alarm being given, the governor of the fort was ena
bled, by the delay, to draw in the two battalions which
were at Mahon, and to force 500 cf tee inhabitants in
to the fort, which already consisted of 2500 men.
The towns and forts of Citadella and Fornella, sur
rendered without making any defence. The landing
which began at three o'clock in the afternoon, was ffi
sifhed at midnight, and in 24 hours we became makers
of the whole island, ex ept fort St. Philip. We expert
^a reinforcement of 5000 men in a few days.
L O N D O N.
August 8. The dispatches from Gibraltar, contain
-matter of the mofbferious nature , the governor having
explicitly declared it to be utterly impossible for him
'to defend that important fortrefs much longer, against
'the attacks of the enemy, unless assisted by a reinforce
ment of troops, and a further supply of provisions. The
public may depend upon it, that this <8 fad, though the
oninifiry have neither fllips nor men, to fend to bis relief.
General Vaughan is coming home, and is to be fuc-
Teeded by general Matthews, who is preparing to em
bark for the Weft Undies.
A correfpondtot remarks, that h wever doubtful it
may be, whether governor Johnftoneis returning from
'the Cape of Good Hope, or not, it is very certain,
that the minißry fiill continue to fail towards it.
If the lords North and Hillfboraugh were really ta
"ken it 'he other by, by the thock they received, in
consequence of the bad news from the Weft Indies and
America, they are weaker than their friends imagine.
Wj Should it affeft them ? They have done their bed,
and if every island in the Weft Indies was to be loft,
t-tr ncomes would remain just tire fame.
In t e proof Iheets of the new edition of the London
Directory, the names of fir George and ge
neral , mould be included amongst the lift of
audtoaeem
We are given to understand, that there are already
no less than seventy. two a&ions commenced against a
certain auctioneer, for the recovery of the value of
certain sales, at St. Euflatia, knocked down without
the confect ®f the owners of the property contained in
the catalogues.
We hear, that lord Bute has employed himfelf for
some time in writing his life, which he intends publish
ing before the meeting of next parliament. If truth
should guide his pen, let some people look to it!
All the let era from Gibraltar lay, that the damage
done by the Spanish gun-boats, who regularly come
out every evening, is much greater thao those from the
batt ries which the Spaniards have lately raised and
brought much nearer than before : three fourths of the
inhabitants have hft the place, and the remainder
want only an ; pportunity to transport themselves from
a price where misery and destruction, distress and po
verty, are to be feeii.
Lord Ndrth and lord Hilllborough are somewhat re
covered from the thock they received by the late dif
patcues from the wert. Their case became desperate,
and threatened to baffle the skill of the faculty; but by
the t mely use of a few Pilule Gallowaianz, or Scoti
co- American Pills, .the violence of the disorder was cor
rected, and they are now in a fair way of recovering
tip ir health, and their rffoludon to pursue the Ameri
can war a little longer, though there is much danger of
a fpe-edy relapse.
A gentleman writes from Barbadoes, that he is in
formed the nett produce of the capture of the island of
St. Euftatius amounted to upwards of 1,230,000]. fler
lin.
They write from the Hague, that admiral Hartfincke
had returned by land to Amflerdam, from the Texel,
in order to expedite the flips fitting out at Amsterdam,
which are wanted to compleat another squadron now
wanted for sea.
The fame letters add, that the Rates general were t®
assemble again the zoth of August, in order fully to
enter into the bufin fs of equipping some more (hips of
wir, ad a general augmentation of the land forces of
the republic.'
Extract of a letter from Barbadoes, brought over in
the la ft mail.
“ We live here in hourly expectation of a hostile vi
fit fr®m the French, a circumstance which in the pre
sent Yituation of the island creates the most alarmingap.
prehensions. The late hurricanes levelled all our for
tifications, which it was the wish of the inhabitants to
have immediately repaired, and the governor was cal
led upon to summon an assembly, with which request
he complied, but, for reasons not as yet difeevereT he
dissolved the assembly before they could effectuate, any
thing, though t' ey offered, notwithftandjog the Gif
trifles of the island, to levy the necessary fams; for re
pairing the fortifications, on themselves antifconftitu
-ents.'
" Th s conduct of the governor has given great of
fence to the inhabitants, and the confluence is, that
they have formed themfrives into independent military
affociationa, and are learning the military exercise to
enable them to defend the island in case of an attack
" The reason given by the governor of Tobago for
surrendering that island fb suddenly to the enemy is,
that the French commander, threatening, in case of
opposition, to refufe all terms, and to put the island
under a similar flare of confifeation with Euftatia."
The site on which they have begun the new custom
house in Ireland, was fixed for the purpose of aggran
dizing the elates of lard Fitzwilliam, Mr. Gardener,
aud Mr. Beresford. This job trie merchants have fe?n
through, and as it will, if carried into execution, oc
casion the loss of yearly thousands to them, they have
petitioned his majesty against it, praying it may be
built where it will suit their convenience. This petiti
on is now before the king, and if the prayer 01 it is
not granted, the volunteers of Ireland, in one aggre
gate body, intend to add a short prayer by Way of
poflfcript, beseeching their sovereign to comply with
the requeftof the city. Should this have no elfea—
Cetera defunt!
A^guft it. When we reflect on the late engagement
between the English and Dutch fleets, it is hardly possi
ble to keep our temper. For the want of two or three
ships, which might very easily have been sent to rein
force admiral Parker, a most complete and glorious
victory has pr6ban!y been loft to Gceat Britain.
It is very true, a report has prevailed, that lord
George Germain with 8 so resign, being heartily fi k of
the American war, but lord Shelburne can never be
won over to risk his honor with a ministry that cannot
but ruin the reputation of every person conarited with it.
The phenomenon at the back of the fun, may pro
bably be matter of curious (peculation; but there is
a phenomenon in the political world that is infinitely
more so, and that is, a ministry continued in office,
without a single ingredient to qualify them for direct
ing the affairs of government, and who are the object#
of contempt at home and of ridicule abroad.
It was but the day before yesterday, the ministerial
prints informed us “ the Dutch were verging back to
their original infignificance, and could only aft on the
defenfive." It is a pity that the soldiery alone should
be confined to a tilt yard flaggellation!
The idea of an impartial print, and of an impartial
individual in politics, are equally mean and contempti
ble. They are both alike avoided and execrated by
honest men, because they are both alike destitute of
principle. In this hour of ministerial turpitude, it
cannot but be competent to every one to difeern the
ruinous tendency of the measures of administration.
Every honest -man cries out fhime upon them, and
fliuns them as they would a pestilence. Tnofe crea
tures, and those pr nts, however, that affect an impar
tiality, ob erve another kind of conduct. They are
base enough to fawn upon ministry while in power,
for what they can get by them, and when justice
overtakes them, will be the firft to cut their throats.
Th# longest chapter in Deutoronomy has net curses
enough for such fellows and such papers!'
All the government transports and tiorefhips, and
many of the merchant ships for America and the Weft
Indies, have in the lower part of- their; holds wheat
and oats instead of ballast, on account of the great
fesreity of those articles at the places where they are
bound to.
The second Dutch war, in king Charles lid's reign
was entered into upon grounds not more solid than the
firft. Some foolifh pimires, and some medals struck,
reflecting on Charles, though not authorized by th#
Rates, were amongst the reasons for wafting the nati
ons treasure, and spilling the blood of English and
Dutchmen; but above all, a whole Dutch fleet's not
Arikieg, said to the king's yacht, was chiefly infi fled ai
a matter not to be g.ven up, though the Dutch offered
all reasonable fdtisfadion. After several obstinate sea.
engagements, in which the Hollanders shewed as much
bravery as the English, Charles was persuaded to make
peace with them.
Posterity may, perhaps, enquiry what gave rife to
the present rupture with the states. Politicians are dh
vided in their opinions ; some think the hopes of plun
dering the Dutch colonies, unprovided cf defence, and
their masters not fu 'petting any danger, together with
the weak Bate of their marine, was the chief motive.
Others think that some deep intrigues between the
courts of London and .Leuwarden, to bring about a
change of government, was the immediate cause of
disuniting the two great m ritime powers.
It is somewhat Angular, that as admiral Rodney had
a considerable land force with him when he appeared
off Tobago, and that there did not appear any impe
diment to his landing his troops, he Should not have
made some attempt to recover the island; and the
more so, as it does not appear that the French had
landed more than 90b men when they made themfelvea
masters of t.
It is said that a resolution is agreed to, that whenever
a peace may come, the naval etfablifhment of these
kingdoms will he larger than at any former time. It was
said by lord Anion, that Great-Britain might always
keep peace at the ^xpence of only 30,000 seamen.
As i is a maxim of the very abfrft and wisest politi
cians, always to make peace with sword in hand, it it
no contra indication of a negotiation being near at
hand : the preparations are evey where making with
great vigour. In the summer of 1762, our warl kt
preparations were as great as ever this kingdom had
then known ; yet peace was declared in three months.
Thi Spaniards are building ar this time t^n ships of
the line, besides frigates, at their different fa ports;
three of which are t the Havanna; the rest of th#
ports of Old Spain, as follows; At Cadiz, Neptune
icq guns. El Gloriofo 70, El Champion 70. At Ferrol,
El Aquilon 100 guns, El Ptince 70. At Carthagena,
El Caffido /o guns At Coruuna, El San Sylveftreyo,
The Dutch squadron at this ime in the Weft-Indies,
which were at Curaffoa in June last, under the com
mand of tear admiral J. Binckes are, Nassau 64, Prin
cess Louisa 56, (flagx Nassau Weil bourg 56; Bevern
wyck 36 Alarm, Zevieten, Aunt, Vaik, and Waak
zamheid, of 24 guns each
The squadron which will be wanted for the Nerth,
in case hoftdities ihould continue beyond the present
year, will employ at least 8000 seamen, independent
of Hoops and cutters, which must be kept up to look
after tne enemy's privateers.
The year 1759 was at once the moll expensive and
the most gl rioua of the lai war the fu.pplies voted
that year were 15,503,5641. the ways and means 16,
130,561!. What proportion between it and the glor,
and levies of this year !
The French and Spanish fleets in the Weft-Indies
exceed that of the British by at least twenty fail of th#
line; the French having thirty two and the Spaniard#
twelve, together 44 fail. The whole British force is,
with Rodney twenty, at Jamaica four, making only
twenty four.
Sir Joseph Yorke is not gone abroad again as hat
been reported, Qe being now on a visit to his brother
the bithop 4 fl^ucefier, at his palace in that city.
The Sceptre man of war of 64 guns, captain Alien,
a new ship now fitting out at Woolwich, is ordered foe
the Weil-Im ies to reinforce admiral Rodney.
Extract of a letter horn Barbidnes.
" Our gallant, or lately gallant admiral is returned
without attacking the Freneh fleet, contrary to his a
vowed intent on: his fleet was indeed inferior in num
ber by two (some fay four) but this was an inferiori
ty which we did not believe would have changed his
resolution. I find, when the French admiral drew up
his topsails, with a resolution to wait for Rodney, as
he was coming down he hauled his wind (for he had
the weather gage of the French) and declined the en
gagrmenr. Sir Samuel Hood, and our other gallant
offic rs, are giving their tongues here the fierceft bent
against their chief, for so unmanly a deferton of his
duty, whilst the people of this inland are continually
apprehensive that such a timid behaviour of our old
admira: (panic struck as he appears to be) may en
courage the gallant Frenchman to iufult him in this
flation, to our heavy disaster, at least in being kept
under arms in such a climate for days together, ihould
nothing worse be the consequence."
On Wednesday evening, after the Beggar's Opera
was over, at the Theatre Royal, in the Hay-market,
two countrymen from the upper gallery, although
highly pleased with the nevelty of the perfcrm.ace,
said, " that they were rather disappointed in the mods
of the opera, as they underflood it was to have been
reversed, and expelled the piece was to have been
begun at the end, and so to have proceeded backwards
to the beginning ''
A few days since, a man named John Bofel, eat the
following enormous meal at the Royal Oak, in Tuptoo#
near Chefterfleld, viz. 47 deck eggs ; 34 hen eggs ; 2
large potatoes ; 4 penny loaves ; and one pound of
hogs lard; he also drank one gallon of ale. He de"
voured the whole in the space of three hours.
Auetift 13. Nothing can exceed the impudence of
the ministerial prints, in affecting, that the spirit of
the British nation is gone, and every kind of oppositi
on with it. Such an event would, at once, fend them
back into that original Rate of obfeurity and wretch
edness from which they hive vegetated, but they know
the fa& is otherwise ; they know we have yet men of
virtue and spirit an@g us, who will come forth at a