The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-10-28 00:00:00, page 2

and I affixed in parbuckling and boifling two full pipet
of w ne out of the hospital cellars, amor gft other |ip%
then in the cellar, one of which was an ullage p peon
tap, and several hogsheads of loaf sugar and bro^n (ugar,
molaffei, &c. one of the said t^o does was so d to Mr.
John Hartman, tavern keeper, at R ad ng, t one time,
and the other at another time o Mr. Henry k ffa, which
made a great naire amorgrt the naabitan s of Ra.iin„
cne of whom, in my hearing, exclaimed, as the wne
came up, '' This is fr way the wine for the sick of the
6 hofprtal is drfpeftd of." It excised a general uneafi
nifs amongrt the btft people in the town, and was ac
companied with a fubfeription of the inhab tan s, for the
pur^hTe of hospital stores, frefh provifi ns and veget
ables, and a donation of old cioath> fur the sick, of
which William Reafer, e quire, and Hrry Hahn, two
of the inhabitants of R^aoi ig, were appointed d^ftri
butors; the fuuteri' ers n't chufing to trust thp:e in the
bofpital department with the dift.i ution.
As to the Dead, John Fr/ and myfrif always in'orm
<d the (teward of such of the hospital p tients as we found
dead, either in the Lrge hofpitdi or private heufes, that
d.reaions might be given for their burial ; and have
been present when different (oldiera have given hke in
format on, of which little notice was ever tahen. In
particul ir, we gave notice every day, for three days suc
cessive y, of a fold.er who Is, dead at the powder house,
cefiring he migh be lent fcr and buried, but to no pur
,o'e. I then went with a wagg n, and hrd him buried
under my own care, without any assistance romthe hof
pitd, although looking at rue desd, or direaing their
buri I, was no part of my proper duty, I have feea ded
men brought out of the done church into the yard, with
nothing on but their shirts, and 'here left out uncovered,
and exposed to view, for d % and rights together, and
expefing the inhabitants to the danger or infa^n:
many caught the hospital fever, which did forbad and
proved fatal to numbers of people : and man, more died
that year at Reading, as I wa» informed, dun foi many
years before. The dead being always stripped of their
cioaths, except their fhir.s, thole were fold *t public
vendue, at the dolors ihop, as I have seen mylelt, and
©th r oidiers have I ought and wore them. I have it
to others, more knowing than my ell, to dete mine whe
the this was not one probable cause, in addition to the
red, of the spreading of the hospital infection.
During the wh de time I was at Read ng, to the heft
of my rctolle&ioD, I never once aw d &or Sh ppm in
any one of the hospitals, though I visited them daily and
oft n, so that it appeared as if he gave himfelf no con
cern about the sick, and one would be apt to think, from
thence, that he had nothing to do with the mat agement
or dir-aion of the i,ofpi als : but when he was at Read
ing, I always law him at Hartman's tavern, and no
o.her place, except amongst the genteel families, where,
in common with other families, my duty led me to ap.
ply, sometimes, on behalf of the fokiiers who were sent
to he quartered at Reading.
In testimony of the truth of the above relation of fa&s,
I hereunto fubferibe my name, the day and year .bov<
mentioned* PETER CZEAS.
Sworn before William Rush, justice of the peace.
^@®sT^3^7® &TO&S®s7@s@Sra
LONDO N, June 2i.
A CORRESPONDENT fays, that if taking Charlef
town does not produce a speedy reconciliation
with America, Clinton's success will be an un
fortunate event. The French will g.ve them assistance
just proportioned to their losses, so as to keep the scales
in equilibrio, and in the end we (hail be in rags, like the
client who gained his cause after he had spent all in the
pursuit.
Extract of a letter from Plymouth, June 18.
" An armed ship is just arrived here, which brings
the following intelligence: That (he, with another
armed vessel, being convoy to a fleet of light home
ward bound transports from Quebec, were met on the
3d inst. by a large fleet of men of war from Brest, and
tnat moil of the transports fell in the hands of the
enemy.
June 24. The news of Sir Henry Clinton's taking
Charleftown, in South-Caro ina, was a very timely
cordial to the drooping spirits of administration, but
it is very far from being a decisive measure in our fa
vour, unless government lays hold of the hour of fuc
ceis to begin a pacific negociation. For it cannot be
supposed that the numerous continental troops in the
other parts of North- America, will not endeavour to
repair their loss by attempts 011 our forces, which will
be more divided from this very conquest.
From Versailles we learn, that scarce a day passes
but cabinet councils are held, and since M. D'Eftaing's
recovery, he frequently allifts. The fubjed of which
is, planning the intended operations for the grand fleet
and army this summer.
From very authentic advises from France we learn,
that the army now in that kingdom consists of upwards
of 240,000 men, including calvalry and artillery, ex
ciufive of eight new regiments now railing.
The dreadiui situation of the outward bound Quebec
fleet, when the captains Cheator and Smith parted from
them has caused great panic in the merchants for their
fafety ; several of whom are insuring them over again
at very high premiums.
Government have Ihewn great inattention in escorting
such a fleet as that bound to Quebec, by fending only
the Danae frigate, and the Pandora which latter car
ries but 24 guns ; the fleet confined of between 40 and 50
fail, and thould have been convoyed by one or two ships
of the line, which would certainly have saved the whole.
The French 74 which met our Quebec fleet, was a
very flow fdbr ; it is thought the was coming hone
from the Weft indies, to undergo a thorough repair in
France.
Had a proper convoy gone with the above fleet, one
French 74, two frigates, and a 20 gun ship must una
voidably have fallen into our hands.
As the French frigates are generally very large, it is
the opinion of several of the gentlemen in the navy that
our frigates are, as well as our merchantmen, in immi
nent danger of being taken.
June 28. Yesterday twelve large ships were taken into
government service, and ordered to be got ready for
sea immediately. They are to carry over flores, cioath
ing, &c. to the troops in South-Carolina.
His Majefly's ship the Aledie, of 74 guns, is arri
ved at Cove, and it is supposed will go as convoy with
the fleet which is ready to fail for America.
July 27. Lord North it seems, has offered to grant
the Eafl-India Company's renewal of their charter for
21 yens, on condition of the Company advancing
2,000,0001. Sterling towards the supplies for next year.
July 31. Captain Pearson, in the Alarm, goes as
commodore to the outward bound Weft-India fleet as
foor as the Buffaloe and Inflexible men of war leave
them at Madeira.
His Majesty has peen pleased to order seven of the
rioters, tried at St.'Margaret's Hill, to be executed on
Wednesday ; and 43 are respited.
The Flora frigate, captain William, is ordered to the
Lisbon station, along with the Fortitude of 74, and the
Charon of 44 guns.
Yesterday general Clarke kissed his Majefly's hand
on being appointed lieutenant governor of Quebec, for
which place he will immediately embark, and join his
regiment (the 51st, late fir James Adolphus Oughton's)
now in Canada.
The convoy for Charleflown, South Carolina, is ex
peßed to fail the 20th instant.
So hot was the late press in the river, that even the
makers of fifliing boats,, and the mates of all other
fllips and vessels were taken away ; acircumftance scarce
ever done before.
The reason of the late very hot press, is said to be
owing to the advices received of the French fleet from
Toulon, h'ving joined that of Spain from Cadiz.
August 2. They write from Copenhagen, that an e
di& of his Danish Majesty is just issued, proclaiming
liberty to all the fubjeds of that crown to trade on
their own account to the four quarters of the globe,
Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, and that in con-
Sequence of this some new commercial companies and
societies are forming.
August 3. It is said to be fixed that lord Carlisle goes
lord lieutenant to Ireland, on the expiration of lord
Buckinghamshire's government.
August 4. Yesterday general Prevoft, lately arrived
in town from Georgia, was at court for the frft time
since his arrival. He was introduced to his Majesty by
the lord in waiting, and graciously received.
The various surmises on lord George Gordon being
kept back from trial, all appear to be futile. Govern
ment did not think it eligible to bring his lordfllip to
trial, until the whole of the evidence against him was
collected and arranged, which could not be done before
the examination of his correspondents in Scotland.
The privy council are now pjffeffed of all the letters
written by lord George to the members of the 85 socie
ties at Glasgow ; but what materials of evidence may be
contained in them has not as yet transpired ; no hea
vy charge, however, it may be presumed, can be made
from them, as Mr. Patterson, the praefis, and the ei
ther gentlemen examined, are at liberty, without having
been even called upon to put in bail.
We have it from undoubted authority, that fir Hugh
Pallifer will have the command of the reinforcement of
eight line of battle ships, ordered immediately for the
Weft-Indies, to reinforce fir George Rodney.
The following is (very nearly at least) the real Hate
of the European navies now on foot ; Great Britain 98,
fail of the line, France 72, Spain 46, Portugal 5, Hol
land I?, Russia 26, Sweden 12, Denmark 11, the smal
ler vessels are not so easily ascertained, but may be ra
ted proportionably.
All the Carolina refugees have got orders to return to
their country, and have been warned that no further
salaries should be paid them by government.
ExtraH of a letter from Portsmouth, August r.
" There never was known at this place such a feene
of confufion, as was exhibited last night and this day ;
upwards of one hundred cutters, tenders, and boats,
were employed in impreflmg the seamen from every
merchantman and transport ; no retyped was paid to pri
vateers or armed ships, all were ftript of their crews.
It is said there were upwards of three hundred fail from
which they pressed the hands; in Short it was just the
fame, press-gangs were to be met with in every Street
hauling the seamen along; all the public and other
houses, where seamen ufed,were rummaged from top to
bottom, and great numbers got for the service. Those
taken on Shore, were put on board the guard ship in
the harbour, as well as the crews of the merchantmen
lying there. It is supposed that three thousand have
been taken and upwards."
August 16. Admini fl ration it is said are determined
to defend the honour of the British flag, and the fupe
riority of the seas : in consequence of winch a fufficient
fl^et is ordered to rendezvous at Spithead, and watch
the motions of the neutral ships, without detaching ad
miral Geary from the important service on which he is
engaged before Ereft.
August 17. The Empress of Russia has made a pre
fect to the Emperor of Germany, of a ship of the line,
and four frigates, in order to make his imperial Ma
jesty a maritime power, and from the assistance of his
name, to give a further colour to the Northern marine
confederacy. The Emperor has ordered his new fleet to
rendezvous at Oftend, a port of his royal mother's,
having no one of his own that will admit the smallest
cutter in the British service.
August 18. A very strong memorial wis dispatched
yesterday to Mr. Harris, our Envoy at Peterfburgh, to
be presented without a moment's delay to the Empress,
in consequence of the present hostile appearance of the
Ruffian flag in the British channel, whilethe two nations
reciprocally profefs the most perfect amity towardseach
other.
Dublin, June 27. A very extraordinary tranfaftion,
and most highly interesting to every individual in this
kingdom, has lately passed in one of our Courts of Ju
dicature. Lord Mansfield, the present Chief Justice
of England, having advanced 30,000 1. upon a mort
gage in this kingdom, under an English act of Parlia
ment, employed an agent to sue for the recovery, who
made application to tnat steady affertor of Irifti liberty,
Barry Yelverton, Esq ; in order to retain him as a Coun
cil in behalf of his Lordship; the like application was
alto made to that ornament of his profeffion, and dis
tinguished guardian of the constitutional rights and
freedom of his country, the Right Honourable Walter
Burgh ; and Councellor Thomas Kelley, whose tried
ntegrity has deservedly acquired him the esteem and
RICHMOND, (Virginia,) September 27.
Extraa of a letter from brigadier general Smallwood,
to his excellency the governor, dated Hillfborough,
September 10, 1780.
" THE extraordinary exertions of that part of colonel
' Harrison's regiment attached to my command in
the late action, demand the highest applause, and I
should be wanting in justice, did I not acknowledge the
gallantry of captain Singleton, captain-lieutenant
Gaines, , and. lieutenant Mofely, the officers who com
manded my artillery. The conduß of captain Single
ton in particular, , during the adion and on the retreat,
was marked by that firmnefs and fortitude that justly
excited my admiration, and willever command my ef
te^m."
Examination of William Allman, of colonel. Stubble
field's regiment of the Virginia militia,, who was
wounded and taken in the a&ion of the 16th ult. and
escaped from the enemy.
SAYS, that he left Camden about eleven days ago;
that lord Cornwallis was then there; that there were
then in garrison only the 23d, 33d, and 71st regular re
giments, and about 500 tories (who all wear red rags
in their hats for diliin&ion) that the enemy's troops
were uncommonly sickly, and the tories remarkably so ;
that the prisoners taken in the adion of the r6th ult.
were sent in four divisions for Charles-Town, the three
firft of 150 each, and the last of 130 ; that the firfl di
vision confided of all the continentals, who were reta
ken by colonel Marian; that lord Rawdon's corps
had been sent towards Ninety-Six, to recover that
post, which colonel Pickens had take 1 ; that a number
of the legion went down towards Pedee to retake the
prisoners from colonel Marian; that all the cannon
but two, are sent to Charles-Town; that the enemy de
clared they fuffered exceedingly in the a&ion with co
lonel Williams; that captain Campbell, an officer in
high repute of the regulars, amongst others, was kil
led; they declared they would give no quarters ; that
the prisoners in Camden were served only with one gill
of meal, unfifted, and seldom with any meat; that the
wounded were very much neglected, and when they di
ed, were fuffered to lay until they flunk horribly, in
the yard with the other prisoners, notwithfianding
captain Dorsey, and others, remonstrated against it;
that the party of the Wax-Saws, consists only of 400
men, are sent there to thrash wheat, and procure pro
visions; that colonel Tarliton, and colonel Turnbull
are gone, as he the declarant supposes, towards Nine
ty-Six ; that the enemy had no flour in Camden where
he left it, and that the Indian-meal was also very scarce;
that general Rutherford was recovering faft, and that
he and all our officers are ordered to Orangeburg; that
the militia were allordered into Camden the day before
the declarant left it, to serve three months; that he is
confident the enemy are very much in want of provi
sions, particularly of the bread kind.
WILLIAM ALLMAN,
Taken at Hillfborough the 20th of September, 1780.
W I L L I A M S B U R G H, September 30.
A gentleman, who signs himfelf " No Correspondent,"
informs us that in the London daily advertiser, of the
14th of February, 1770, is the following paragraph,
under the signature of ISAIAH the PROPHET, and
desires we would print it for the credit of Isaiah the
fecond's difeernment, because he has proved himfelf
as true a prophet as his predecessor.
After feveralobfervatibns on the condu& of the mi
nifiry at that period, he concludes in the following man
ner : " And now let me add a little prediction—lt is
" only this—That if the present system with regard to
“ America is pursued, the great right of regulating
" commerce, at present acknowledged by the Ameri
" cans to exist in our parliament, and the right ofefta
" bliihing officers there to execute the ads made for
“ tint purpose, will, ere long, be denied and opposed,
“ and before ten years come about, it will be found,
“ that the parliament of Britain has no more authority
" in America than it has injapan.
" O Lord! enlighten our underfiandings, that we may
" fee the things that belong to our peace, before they
" are hidden from our eyes!"
FIS H-K I L L, October 12.
Died, the 2d inflant, at his house at Ringwood,
ROBERT ERSKINE, F. R. S. and geographer to the
army of the United States, in the 46th year of his age.
A man in whom were united the chri ftian and the gen
tleman. His integrity and unbounded benevolence have
rendered his death a loss to the public, and a fubjeft
of sincere regret to all his acquaintances. He made the
laws of justice the invariable rule of his conduct and
upon this principle espoused the cause of America, in
which he served his country with approbation and uni
versal efteem.'
Mercury of France, April 22, 1780.
Monfieuf Gerard, late secretary of the council of
state, and minister plenipotentiary at the United States
of America, having been appointed counfellor of state,
has taken the usual oath the ißih infant, which was
lodged in the hands of the lord keeper of the seals.
approbation of all good men, was likewise applied to:
but those gentlemen unanimously reje&ed the fee, de
claring they never would appear as advocates in any
cause to enforce the operation of a British aft of Parli
ament. This laudable and spirited example will, no
doubt, be followed by all the Gentlemen at the bar,
and convince the Ministry that any attempt to bind his
Majefly'sfubjefts in this country by an English sta
tute, are vain and futile; and that Irishmen will be
amenable to no laws but those enacted by the King,
Lords, and Commons of Ireland ONLY.
Extr^a of a letter from Derby, June 15.
“ On Saturday last a female heroine was difeovered
in colonel Fullerton's regiment, quartered here: the
is an Irish girl, had been in the corps about three
months, and during that terra behaved remarkably well,
performing her duty with aaivity and chearfulnefs. It
is (aid, die followed her sweetheart from Ireland. She
lias been discharged, and money given to carry her
home. The manner of her sex being disclosed is vari
ously related, but we ar# told she lodged at a private
house, and communicated the secret to a female bed-fel
low, by whom she was betrayed."