The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-08-17 00:00:00, page 2

tifthe Head of Elk, as will as he could have marched to
the Delaware to oppose it, both places being equally dis
tant from Wilmington ? The witness replied, that he was
Dot fufficiently acquainted with the march of armies, to be
able to answer that question.
To shew the great inconvenience of landing in the face
of the enemy at Newcastle, Sir Andrew, in answer to
questions put by Sir William Howe, informed the Com
mittee, that little use could have been made of the line of
battle ffiips, as it was generally from them the flrips boats
were manned to land the army: There were feyenty-five
boats with twelve men and an officer in each, in all 975
employed in that service; and no more than 3,375 soldiers
could be landed at one trip ; he admitted, however, that
near the Elk the militia of the three lower counties on De
laware, &-h corps between four and five hundred strong,
were in force under the command of a Brigadier General.
At eight o'clock S'r Andrew withdrew, and Col Mon
trefor, who afted as chief Engineer in America, was called
He, in answer to questions proposed, observed that the
lines on Long-Bland were so very strong, that the morn
ing they were evacuated, it was with great difficulty that he
and a corporal's patrole of fix men could get into them to
view them. They were finely defined, so were all the
works he saw railed by the rebels, but not judiciously ex
ecuted. The works could not be taken by assault or storm;
they called for regular approaches. It would be a forlorn
hope to commit naked men to storm redoubts, without
fafeines, fearing ladders, &c. If they had attemp^ed'and
got possession of the intermediate part of the lines, the,
could not live an instant in them, so long as the redoubts
on the flanks were held by the e^my. They extended
in front about two thousand yards, from the swamp on the
left to the water. On being asked, if the 13d regiment
and the grenadiers of the army might have penetrated 1
He said, there was not room fdr a single man to pass be
tween the ehd of the line and the swamp ; but if the firm,
had not been impassible, there would be no living for nak
ed troops, under the fire of the redoubts. The lines were
catenated in the night of the 28di, and he difeovered it
at four o'clock the next morning, with the patrcle already
mentioned. He saw tne rear embarking, ^d feverai boats
(four or five) passing over to York Island. The bringing
up fafeines, ladders, &c. would have been the work of some
hoars, and if they were at hand, he did not think that
the lines could be taken by assault without hazarding a
defeat, or at ieaft purchasing a victory very dearly, and
by a great loss *f lives—nor in any manner, iii his opi
nion, but by regular approaches.
Relative to -Washington's position, in the mountain
above Quibble-Town, he did not think it advifeable to
force his camp : He thought the rifque and danger greatly
outweighed the probability of success.
The General could take no new position, to draw
Wethington from his camp, without manifeft hazard ; the
exposing of New York, or of being cut off from his.com
munications both with that city and the New-River.
After three hours and an half close examination, a mo
tion was made for calling in Col. Balfour ; but it passed in
the negative without a division, and the House adjourned
at eleven o'clock.
Thursday, May 13.
Mr. De Grey observed to the House, that as a number
of witnesses had been fummonid to attend the Committee
on the American papers, to give evidence on one fide of
toe question, it was but fair that evidence should be pro
duced on the other fide, and for this purpose he moved
for the attendance of Major-General Robertson, Majors
General Jones, Col. Dixon, Major Stanton, Lieut. Col.
Maxwell, the late Attorney 'General ®f Penufylvania, the
late Speaker of the Assembly of Ptunfylvan:a, and the
Collector of the Cufioms of that Province.
This motion produced a conversation in which Mini
sters were charged with having at length taken up the
characters of accusers, by making out two sides in the bu
fioefs; but with having done it rather late, as it would have
been more candid and generous to have intimated their
intention earlier to call evidence to criminate the Com
mander in Chief.
Lord G. Germaine disclaimed the name of accuser, and
declared, that if the Commanders had not devi
ated from mere military investigation, in the course of the
prefect enquiry, he would not have called a single evi
dence ; and he hoped, that when he flood accused, and
produced witnesses to exculpate him, the House would
deem him ading on the defeufive, and not with any in
tention to criminate others. To defeat the evidence alrea
dy given in at the bar was what he owed to himfelf, and
to the many loyal Americans who now crowd our fireets,
banished their country, a'nd robbed of their property for
their attachment to our confiiturion ; and he was no less
bold than happy to fay, that he was able to prove the re
verse of every thing that was advanced at the bar as mat
ter of opinion ; and that though America was represented
as perfectly unanimous agaiaft Great Britain, yet it real
ly swarmed with people who were heartily and zealously
attached to the mother country. This he said without
the least intention to call in question the veracity of the
noble Lord and honourable Gentleman who had appeared
at the bar ; it was their opinions only he intended to prove
to be erroneous and ill-founded.
After some little conversation, the motion passed in the
affirmative.
Mr. DUNLAP,
IH AV E said that the news of Burgoyne's surrender
arrived in Paris December 4th, 1777, when Doctor Lee
had no Secretary ; and that February 21st, misprinted by
you iith, cannot te termed " about that time," so as to
answer the malignant purpose of the published insinuation.
But, Mr. Deane himfelf had an anting Secretary, living
under the fame roof with the Commiifi oners at Paffy, who
went off express for London the very day the news arrived.
An appeal for tire truth of this is made to Mr. Austin, who
carried the dispatches to France, and to other Americans
ero were in Paris or in London at that juncture. What
ever of infamy was in that trpnfadion was charged upon
Mr- Lee in common with his colleagues, as may be seen
by Thornton's unlucky letter, long concealed from Mr.
Lee, "Lord North told Mr. Hartley last Saturday, the 3d
of January 1778, that he knew of several persons who had
come to London from Messrs. Franklin, Deane and Lee;
and that Dodor Bancroft had been sent by those gehtle
men on flockjobbing-bufinefs." Worse may be seen by the
following certificate, dated Paris, the nth of April 1778 %
“ I do hereby certify, that I was shewn a letter in. Lon
don, dated the 27th of January last, which I was told was
written by Doftor Bancroft to Mr, Wharton, informing
him, that be might depend upon it, he had it from the
very best authority that the treaty with the Court of
France was to be signed the sth or 6th of February, and
desiring him to make his (peculations accordingly ; in the
above words, or words to that effect. Ido ado certify,
that I have seen Dodor Bancroft's hand writing on other
, occasions, and that I believe the above-mentioned letter
to have been written by him."
Signed, M. LIVINGSTON.
Witness, Geo. Digges.
This certificate is from a gentleman of unimpeached cha
racter, some time Lieutenant on board the Boston frigate,
which he quitted with a recommendation to Congress fr®m
the Commissioners: He now commands the Governor Li
viuffton, and ^ hourly expeded in America. Here is the
secret betrayed not after but before the treaty was signed.
I deal in fads. They are other people who throw out in
finuatioDS a&ct Secretary Bancroft's befl authority, and
the corroborating circumfiance of Samuel W harton's draft
of Feb. 17, 177'8, for 195201. 14s. on Mt. Silas Deane.
Twill finish this business quite, now it is on hand.
Thornton was unlucky in telling Mr. Deane and Dodor
Bancroft about Dodor Bancroft's and Mr. Deane's (pecu
lations in the flocks. There were soon whispers that
Thornton had been concerned. Mr. Lee taxed him with
it. but was fatisfied, by the fight of a letter from Mr.
Wharton; that, the' strongly solicited, Thornton would
not hold a correfpohdence with him. The whispers grew
ftrbnger during his abfenoe. Droll arts were used, but in
vain, to deprive him, while innocent, of Mr. Lee's confi
dence. At length the right nfode was pursued. The man
was inveigled into delinquency ; and being called to ren
der an account, he abfeohded. These things appear by
letters from Mr. Lee, and other papers. He writes to
Thornton, May 17th, 1778 : " I received yours of the 7th
and the news-papers. I mentioned to you the charges
against you here of flock-jobbing. You must avoid giv
ing any foundation for them. You know the quarter from
which the .ccufation comes. It would be doubly improper
for any one employed by me to be doing that which in it
felf is wrong, and which lam confuting in others." He
Writes to a friend in London, July 25th, 1778: " As Mr.
T's cenduift has appeared to you suspicious, I shall be
obliged to you for any information that may be relied up
on relative to his proceedings, w'^Y are the more to be
watched as he has staid a long tin ~ contrary to my orders,
alledging sickness " It is needless to give other extracts.
What fatisfied Mr. Lee was Mr. Aufiin's teftimody that
he had seen a note of Mr. Wharton to Mr. Thornton for
5001. payable oh condition that war should be declared be
fore. a certain day.
I promised to show the honorable nadtre of the only two
letters written to Lord Shelburne by Doctor Lee after he
became our CommilEoner.
" My Lord, Dec. 12, 1776.
" A very few hours after my last letter to your Lord
fliip, brought me the desire or my country to serve here
in a public char Her. Your lordship, I hope, thinks too
well of me to suppose I could hefuate a moment. In fad,
almost the fame moment saw me bid adieu, perhaps for
ever, to a country where, from choice, I had fixed my
fortunes, and to a people whom I most refpeded and
could have loved. But.the firft object of my life is my
country ; the firft wish of my heart is. public liberty. I
must fee therefore the liberties of my country efiablilhed,
or perish in her last struggle.
" In truth, I have long despaired even es a struggle for
liberty in England. I will not insult Scotland with the
idea. It is not the subtle Wedderburne poisoning the
fountain of public security ; nor the ruthless Thurlowe,
deliberately butchering the liberties of his country, that
makes me despair; but and yet, perhaps, the people
are only not virtuous: And America may yet, with a
fort of filial piety, re-animate her expiring Constitution.
" Our pater patrite, with whom and Mr. Deane I am
joined in power, is in good health and spirits. If Fate will
have it that, America, as she has reared her temples and
her altars t® Liberty, must furnifh her victims too, I know
not where she can find a facrifice more refpe&able.
" Should the event of this measure be found fatal to
England, it is the perfidy of her Ministers, which would
never offer any thing th 4 could be tru fted,which compels
it, and to which the consequences are justly imputable.
“ I beg your Lordfllip to remember me as one who can
never cease to have the most perfect efieem for you. I
have communicated to the Abbe Raynal all the fads I
could colled, in answer to his questions. He will write to
you foen.
" May I beg to be remembered to our friends in the
college, and to those out of it, who, I hope, will always
da me the honor of remembering me; Col. Barre, Mr.
Dunning, Doßor Priestley, Doctor Price, &c.
" I have the honor to be, &c."
“ My Lord, Dec. 10, 1777.
" I have the honor of enclosing you the copy of a let
ter, transmitted at the fame time, to the firft Lord of the
Treasury. The honor of the nation, and the rights of
humanity, are too much interested in the object of it,
not to receive your Lordfllip's advocation. The enclosed
papers contain the principal tranfadions between the
northern armies. The burning defencelefs towns and every
thing before him, as General Clinton has done, will pro
bably draw upon him and his the vengeance whicii such
enormities deserve, in spite of all the endeavors of Con
gress to prevent any hasty retaliation. The South-Caro
lina Gazettes mention the arrival of an American Captain,
who had been taken by Captain Jarvis, and who mentions
with the highest praise the generous and humane treat
ment he received from that officer: We have had, from
other prisoners, accounts equally to his honor; which, I
am sure, will give your Lordship pleasure. Capt Jarvis
may be assured, that such conduct will command from us
the praise and efieem which is always due to a generous
enemy.•
“ The necessity which has made us enemies, for a time,
and separated us, for ever, from the fame government, has
not altered the efieem I felt for the good and wife in Eng
land. Among these I hope your Lordship and your friends
will accept am assurance of my refpea and friendfhip. I
condole most sincerely with the family at Coombwood for
the misfortune at New-York.
" I have the honor to be, &c.
“A. L E E."
1 must not now fend you counter proofs so the insinua
tion that DoHor Lee was " dragged" into the treaty, be
cause I shall perhaps fancy to give extracts from a// those
of his public and private letters written about that period,
which have come to my view. I cannot close, however,
without noticing the insidious use of tne singular number.
There were two treaties. Did he not joy and rejoice at
the treaty of alliance ? He objected to one single article in
the treaty of commerce, which the equanimity of France
readily abolished upon a suggested wish of Cowgrefs.
ROWLAND.
CHARLESTOWN, (South Carolina,) July 20,
^°py °f a letter ,rom an efficer 0/ rank in the Britjfo army,
dated Port Royal Island, July 2, 1779.
T N my last letter to you, I gave y@u the particulars of
I a bold effort made by the Rebels, the 20th @f June
to storm our entrenchments at Stono. In this I have little
news to convey, nothing material having happened iince,
untefs I was to give a detail of the mifetable situation of
the army from the heat of this climate I fear,my biend,
the Royal Cause will fuffer material injury, in that wohad
not a fufficient number of troops to take Charleftown by
storm,, the evening we matched before the walls offt; and
the delay till winter will be attended with immense d fa
culties. If it be but frongly fortified, the siege of it will
prove hard and tedious, as the Reb Is have More of artil-
Qy, and will, no doubt, have their public cellars well
stored with meat, drink and firing, for many months ; so
that if we shall assault it, we Drill be once more fain'ed to
quit it with shame ; and the affairs of Europe and America
are so various, that it will be impossible for us to have an
army fufficient to reduce it.
" Our commanders seem to kiy, much firefs on holding
possession. of the country, corrupting the negroe', plunder
ing the inhabitants, and burning their pofi^ffions; " See
" ing their reflates destroyed, fay they, the people will not,
" have patience to beapthe war, and a lore for themselves
" will make them desert their cause, however convinced
“ of its justice." This mode of warfare I ever held base
and ignominious; and the command of the country, with
out the possession of CharleßewA is, in my poof opinion,
but of small account; and if their government has but
worth and valour, and a genius for resources equal to
what this rich Colony affords, it will master all these diffi
culties. This cruelty, this deftru&ion and waste, will ra
ther warm the people, and make there resolute. lam of
opinion, that the damage all done, and the mifehief over,
the people feeing no help for it, will flick fafter to their
new government, which will then be more bound to their
patriotism, as their property is ruined in its defence.
" Much also has been hoped for from the mikontents
or loyalists; so far from yielding us any assi stance, that
few only apply for protection from plundering parties, and
do no other service than fleal their neighbours horses,
cattle, and other necessaries for the army, and give intel
ligence of the movements and designs of the Rebel,, not
withstanding the most solemn oaths and vows of fidelity to
them ! I have read much of the history of civil wars, but
never heard of such an amphibious, worthless race of men.
In all other countries, the mass of the people take one fide
or other, and could never yet behold, with indifference,
public calamities. In our civil war of former days in Scot
land, that native warmth of our temper, the fatoru^ 'er
<uidum ingenium, which could never admit neutrality, now
no longer exifis in our countrymen, which nothing but the
strange fatality attending the Royal cause can account for.
But however useless these Tories (as the Rebels call them)
are to us, and contemptible in themselves, if the new go
vernments knew how to take advantage of times and cir
cumstances, their faint eppofition, so far from injuring the
Rebels, it would be as a ladder for them to rife hifner, nay
they might find, I think, faith and profit in them, had
they wisdom and found policy. I could quote examples,
where those who were held fufpeaed in the beginning of a
similar war, have, from a firings pliability and change
ableness of men's nature, changed sides, and done more
worthy services, than many who ftept forward in the be
ginning. 'Tis from all these and many other reasons, that
I much doubt the success of his Majtfty's arms the ensuing
campaign against the Carolinas.
" Taking a conquefleven for granted, I think it were
much better to grant them Independence, and Retire their
trade. In case of a fubduaion, I &retell you, my friend,
that a new rebellion will be the inevitable consequence;
for the people harraffed as they are, with the fatigues and
heat of the war, will net immediately feel the anguilh of
the wound their reputation and feelings muff fuffer, when
they grow cool, and find themselves fligmatized by the
world, and perhaps treated by government as actual Re
bels. The pride and spirit of an ordinary man could never
bear the unfpeakabh shame and infamy of so ignominious
a situation ; and the experience of other countries seems to
prove, that the single conlideration of national character,
will prompt them to incur all the miseries of war. It
is not impossible but that the Tories themselves may here
after think themselves and posterity involved in the disho
nor of being conquered from a state of rebellion ; and so
much are the ways of men part finding out, that they may
be the firft to rouse to arms.
B O S TO N, Augufi 5.
Tuesday last arrived here a Frenchfrigate of 32 guns
from France, in which came passengers His Excellency the
Chevalier de la Luserne, Plenipotentiary from His
Most Christian Maj^fty to the United States, with his
Secretary, &c. as also the Hon. John Adams, Esq; late
a Commissioner from these States to the Court of France..
His Excellency and suit landed on General Hancock's
wharf, about five o'clock the fame afternoon, where they
were received by a Committee from the Hon. Council.of
this State, who were waiting with carriages for their re
ception ; they were conducted to the house, late the resi
dence of the Continental General. He was saluted by &
difeharge of thirteen cannon, on his landing, from the fort
refs on Fort-hill, and every other mark of refped shewn
him, which circumstances would admit.
Yesterday arrived here a fliip and two brigs from France,
that came out under convoy of the above frigate—who,
we hear hye very valuable cargoes o$ tyoard.
" The bills of exchange drawn by Capt. Campbell, I
hear have been protested ; I beg you will recover the mo
ney, or I shall lose it inevitably. After my sincerest ref
peds to your lady, Miss Betsey, and my friend the Co
lonel, I remain, Sir, your friend, and most obedient
humble servant."