The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-03-04 00:00:00, page 2

Ration had complained in private letters of the neglect of
government in not fending reinforcements, or even con
descending to let them know if they were to maintain a
Rate of peace or war with France. This was another in
ftane of the want of capacity for government, and a rea
son for voting for the amendment.
Mr. Thomas De Grey, jun. (Secretary to Lord Geo.
Germaine) gave the House a very fatisfaßory answer.
He said the office had no such intelligence as the honora
ble member had mentioned; but they had letters from the
Governor of Jamaica of a very contrary nature, declaring
that he had put the iiland in such a Rate of defence as
to enable him to refill any sudden attack till fuccours
could arrive from England; but they had no official ac
counts of any number of troops collected at Hifpanioia,
nor any ffiip of war on that station.
Mr. Fox rose, and after complimenting the gentleman
for the candid answer he had given, just observed, that
he thought the Secretary of State for the colonics should
have been in his place to have given it; but he seldom ho
nored the House with his attendance. [Lord Geo. Ger
maine came in not long after.] He then declared, that
the private letters to the honorable member (Mr. Bailey)
had not been absolutely contradicted ; therefore he should
take it for granted they were true, as they came from re
fpedable inhabitants of the place; and this was a freih
instance of the fhameful neglect of the Admiralty depart
ment, and of the folly of fending such naval force to Ame
rica, that he could not protest our old and most valuable
settlements. He then went over the grounds of his ob
jedions to the addrtfs, stated in his former speech ; and
added a long firing es the most bitter reflections on Lord
North that could possibly be uttered. He said it had been
given out, that our situation was not so bad now as it was
at the beginning of the last war. This we apprehend he
construed as a reflexion on his father, the late Lord Hol
land, who was minister at that ^ra ; after observing that
we were in a much worse situation, for we had then only
loft Minorca, now we had loft thirteen provinces. But
the noble person alluded to, had different motives of ho
nor from those of the present minister; and as he had re
ceived his education under him, this might be one reafen
LONDON.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, Friday, Nov. 27.
THE House proceeded on the business of the preceding
day, by the Speaker's desiring Mr. Greville to bring
up the report of the committee appointed to draw up the
address of thanks to his Majesty. The report being then
profited at the table, and read by one of the clerks, the
question was put for reading it a second time, when Sir
Philip Jehnins Cierke rose to object to it, declaring that
he found himfelf under a necessity either to put a negative
upon the address, cr contend for the amendment proposed
t^e day before. He said, it was highly improper at this
crisis to pay compliments to the throne, at a time of publ : c
cJ^mity, when the fafety of tee kingdom was manifeftly
at hah; and every hour was pregnant with some instance
of the incapacity of the prefect ministers to govern this
Country. It appeared to him highly injurious to the na
tion to promise his Majefy the effectual hipport of that
House in meifures deftruftive of his dominions, and for
continuing in office men who were resolved to adhere to
t.e fame ruinous plans that had brought us into our pre
fect alarming situation.
Mr. Adams acquainted the House, that he had postpon
ed giving his sentiments on the amendment the preceding
evening,'in deference to the great number of able speakers
on both sides of the question, choosing rather to deliver
his opinion to a thin House, than to obtrude it on a tired
audience. He was for the amendment on this principle,
that he thought it impossible, from what had appeared to
the House in the course of the long debate, that this coun
try could provide land and sea fortes fufficient for an offen
• five war with A merica, another with France, and perhaps
another with some other power, without leaving these
kingdoms almost defencelefs. He observed, that the de
fence not only of the capitals of Great-Britain and Ire
land, but also of every sea port town, ought to be pro
vided for; and desired gentlemen would only advert to
the case of Edinburgh last autumn, when a banditti of
4GO men were masters of the lives and fortunes of 50,000
of his Majesty's fubjeds for several days, before'the com
manding officer, with all his bravery and conduct, could
quell the mutiny ; and he hoped this matter would be
found worthy of parliamentary enquiry. Had not some
towns in the fame country been plundered by French pri
vateers ? If therefore the minlftry was to be indulged in
their favorite system of vigorous exertions in America,
France would certainly avail itfelf of an hour of weakness
to attack us™at home; and notwithftandiGg all that had
been justly said in favour of the militia, it might prove
ineffectual against the superior force the enemy might
land upon us. For his part he was as ready to facrifice
his life and fortune as any man in the House, but he wish
ed to be underftood' right, he would willingly facrifice
them in defence of this country against @ur perfidious ene
mies the French. Fer this reason he wished to fee a change
of ministers, and men employed, who would neither give
up the dependency of America on Britain, nor continue
year after year to make fruitlefs attempts to inforce it by
the sword ; but who would leave America till he had con
quered France, and then fee if the revolted provinces
would not return to their allegiance to this country. It
had been asked, Who would you have for ministers? He
did not mean to point th^m out; but he was certain it
would be much better to cast lots for a new administra
tion, than to continue the present set of men in office.
Mr. Bliley called upon adminift ration to declare to the
House, if they had or had not received intelligence from
Jamaica, to the fame purpose as the information contain
ed in private letters from his friends, which he had receiv
ed by the lift packet, and was to the following purport :
That a large boly of troops were assembled at Hifpanioia,
and transports ready to embark them; that they only
waited for a French fleet to convoy them; that the Mi
nerva and Active, two of his Majesty's frigates, had been
taken by a French man of war and carried into Hifpani
oia ; and that the Governor of Jamaica had been obliged
to proclaim martial law, and to put the island in the best
posture of defence he was able,, but without hopes of be
ing able to hold out against the sudden attack of a strong
fleet and a large regular force, having only 6co regulars
and the mixed militia, composed of mulattoes, negroes,
&c. That both the Governor and the Admiral on the
why he always differed from his loroffiip in points of ho
nor. The person alluded to at the beginning of the last
war, thought it a point of honor to resign his office, when
he found he could no longer hold it for the benefit of his
country. But the noble Lord in the blue ribbon makes
it his point of honor to keep in his office, year after year,
though his administration has been a series of misfortunes
to his country ; and in the very moment of additional ca
lamities, he goes into the cabinet, and advises his Sove
reign to bestow on him a most lucrative vacant place, the
wardenfliip of the Cinque Ports. And why/ Because 111
another year the Crown might have nothing left t@ give,
if his Lordfllip continued to govern. But it had been said,
it is a rule of government with foreign Princes, to assist
the weak : This indeed was a reason for the noble I.ord
to continue in office, that Russia and other foreign pow
ers might assist this country. He then rallied Government
upon fending out a CommiDioner who could tell the Ame
ricans what fort of mtn the ministry were. This alone
was enough to mar the success of the treaty. He con
cluded with repeating his assertion, that a falfe account
had been given to the House last year of the Date of the
navy.
Lord Mulgrave rose, severely reprehended Mr. Fox
for the asperity of his language, and told him, he should
have imagined him a candidate for a vacant Alderman's
gown, and his address adapted to the inhabitants of Bil
lingsgate ward. H^ then declared the state of the navy
last year, as given to the House, to have been true; and
added, our naval forceis superior to that of France in all
parts of the globe; it will be superior to that of France
and Spain very soon. Lord North, in a short, warm
speech, exculpated himfelf from the charge of Eliciting
honours or emoluments, they were the spontaneous, vo
luntary gifts of his Royal Master, after ten years services.
He had not bettered his fortune since he came into office ;
and the duty he owed a large family made it incumbent
on him in his situation, not to refufe a moderate provisi
on for them. But as to the last place he had obtained,
it was not of such consequence as the gentleman imagin
ed ; for it was owing to his own moderation that the
King had not given him all the salary annexed to it in
the late possessor's time. Hethen rebelled gentlemen
not to raise scruples where there could be come : Neither
the speech nor the address mentioned the American war ;
they only requested and promised general support. His
Lordship concluded by pro:effing a readiness to resign his
office, whenever it should appear that his country would
be benefited by such resignation.
General Burgoyne now rose and desired the attention
of the House to an injury which, though it was done to
an individual, Shewed the disposition of the ruling pow
ers, and therefore came within the fubjeft of the enquiry
into their conduct proposed by the amendment. He then
strongly blamed Lord George Germaine for preventing
his feeing the King, and giving as a reason, that he could
not appear at St. James's till a court of enquiry had fat
on his conduct, when at the fame time the noble Lord
had told the House, that no court of enquiry could be
held, it being illegal. ff He said, insinuations had been
thrown out that the American Congress had been uncom
monly kind to him : As a British officer, he denied it,
but as a gentleman, he acknowledged he had received
more civility, in their permitting him to come home to
ju ftify himfelf, than from the Congress or Ministers at
'home, who* had done all in their powers to prevent it.
He then produced letters from the Secretary of War in
the course of the fumn^r, requiring him, in his Majesty's
name, to repair to Boston as soon as his health would ad
mit. He called this letter a cabinet letter ; and said the
noble Lord was one who advised it in Council; yet h^
thought it could hardly be, that he wanted him out of
the kingdom, when he knew he had a public dispute to
fettle with him. However, if the order was made pe
remptory, he knew how he ought to ad.
Lord George Germaine in reply, observed, that it
was his Majesty's pleasure General Burgoyne should not
approach his presence till a court of enquiry had fat upon
his conduct ; that in regard to his honour, he had after
wards advised a court martial as the faireftmode of trial
for his reputation. As to the orders for him to return
to Boston, the cabinet letter in particular came from
Lord Amherst as Commander in Chief, and he might
show it to the Council for their opinion as a matter of de
licacy; This was all he knew of it, as it was out of his
department; but in his opinion, as the Commissioners
and General Clinton had received a paper in the King's
name to ratify the treaty of Saratoga, he should have
imagined the General should have been there to have
stated many circumstances they might have been stran
gers to. At least it must have been some comfort to the
imprisoned army to have seen their General Sharing in
their fate, and using his best endeavours for their relief.
As to the dispute between them, he wished it was fitted to
the bottom, let who would fuffer, and ne should be as
ready to find the gentleman honourably acquitted as any
one in the House.
Mr. Pulteney said a few words against the address on
the fame principles as the rest of the gentlemen, and the
question being called for, the report was read a second
time, and the address agreed to. °
Head-quarters, Philadelphia, March 2, 177%
Mr. DUNLAP,
EN V Y and malice are indefatigable. Where they
have not invention enough to frame new Danders;
or the slanders newly framed are found totally inadequate
to their purpose; they will call in the feeble aid of old
calumnies, however groundless, and however well refut
ed. Of this a remarkable instance is shewn in your 'pa
per of Saturday last, by a publication Signed T. G. I
have seen, before this time, what he dignifies with the
appellation of articles of impeachment by I.ieut. Colonel
Brown. I was in Philadelphia when I received them,
and immediately laid them before Congress, together
with my request that the matter might be tried by a
court martial. Congress thought proper to refer it to the
Board of war, who made the following report, which
was confirmed by Congress and published. It would
have been butcandid in T. G. to have given to the pub
lic the sentiments of the Board of War and of Congress,
as well as those of Lieut. Colonel Brown concerning me.
I am far from endeavouring to have any part of my con
duct concealed ; and have requested of Congress to have
it Submitted to the test of open and impartial trial : Butit
Camp, Millflone, January 12.
NINETY DOLLARS REWARD.
DESERTED from the seventh Pennsylvania
regiment, the following recruits, viz. John
White, an Englishman about fix feet high, twenty
two years of age, black hair; refilled in Lancaster coun
ty, and defeated at the White Horse between Lancaster
and Philadelphia ; probably be is in that settlement, be
ing well acquainted in it. Robert Willson; an
Irishman, atout five feet fix inches high, thirty-five
years of age, stoop Mouldered, much pitted with the
finall-pcx, blak curled hair, by trade a tanner and
currier, and part of a (hoemaker; resided near Lancas
ter ; had on a brown coat, red jacket, brown breeches,
white yarn Dockings, and an old fur hat. John Whlte,
an Englishman, about five feet eight inches high, ans
thirty years of age, round Diouldered, black curly hair,
had on when he defected, a blue coat faced with white
and lined with striped lincty, a white waistcoat and
brown overalls; he had also a red coat, brown waitU
coat and white cloth breeches : His wife was with him,
a thick set woman, with a l^ge fear on her left cheek :
They are fuppoled to be gone to Baltimore, as Die has
a brother there. Whoever takes up the above deserters
and secures them in any gaol, or gives them in charge
to any Officer commanding a party to camp, whereby
the regiment may get them, fhali receive the above
reward, or Thirty Dollars ' tor either of them, paid
by SAMUEL HAY, Lieut. Col. Cem.
seventh Pennsylvania Reg.
vern, in Chrifiiana hundred, Newcastle county,
A VALUABLE plantation and trad of land, situate
" in said hundred, containing about 150 acres of land,
about twenty acres whereof watered meadow; there are
suitable buildings on said plantation, two bearing orchards,
the whole in good repair. Also about five acres of mea
dow ground in Newport marfli, The said plantation and
meadow, late the estate of Christopher Wilson, being
confiscated and to be fold for the use of the Delaware state
by WILLIAM M. CLAY, Commissioner
March I. Newcastle county.
rt±*^±&m:rta±*±±***^
TO B E S O L D,
Fo the emissions of Continent:! currency called out of
circulation, or any current circulating monev,
AV ALUABLE traa of LAND, containing hy
estimation thirteen hunded acre, situate on Chef
terßiver, in Qpeen-AnaT county, in the state of Ma
ryland, about eight miles above Chester Town. The
purchaser of this land will find many advantages, some
of which are as follow : The well known and valuable
Dream called Red Lyon Branch lays on the eatt, and
Pearl Creek on the weft of laid tra&, with the river
Chester on the front : A grist-mill in high estimation
was formerly on this tradt, upon the Red Lyon Branch
aforefaid, the most expensive part of the dam of which
mill yet remains, and could at a small expence he re
paired ; as a fat for a mill it would be well worth the
notice of some person in that way. Shad and herring,
also a variety of other filh, arc in their different seasons
taken in greet abundance. A large proportion of this
tra& s well weeded, which mi^ht be very advantage
ously fold for the Supply of Chester-Town, having wa
ter carriage; There is on the fame tra&, a fufficient
quantity of very gesd marsh meadow, through which a
causeway is made leading to a public ferrv known by
the name of Calliftei's ferry, croffng to Kent county*
and within eight miles of George-Town. For further
information apply to Sarah Callister, ^t Chester-
Tewn, Maryland.
TO BE SOL D,
On Monday the 15th inflant, at Mr. Hendrickson's ta-
MAY eg, 1777.
The Board of War reported, “ That they have had a
" conference with Mijor General Arnold concerning
" the imputations cast upon his character, contained in a
“ hand-bill dated Pittsfield,April 12,1777, and fubferibed
" John Brown, laid I>efore Congress by the General in
" his letter to the President; that the General laid be
" fore the Board a variety of original letters, orders,
" and other papers, which, together with the General's
“ account of his conduct, confirmed by the relation of
'' Mr. Carrol, one of the late Commissioners in Canada,
“ now a Member of this Board, have given entire fatis
" faction to this Board concerning the General's charac
“ ter and conduct, so cruelly and groundlessly afperfed
“ in the publication."
Resolved, That the said report stand confirmed.
Extract from the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Sec.
is ungenerous and udjuft to attack my character in ano
nymous publications, the authors of which are equally
unknown to me and to the public. Jam, Sir,'
Your humble servant,
B. ARNOLD.
In CONGRESS, Maj ze, 1777.
A letter of this day from General Arnold, with a
printed paper inclofed, signed John Brown, was read,
Ordered, That the letter from General Arnold, with
the paper inclofcd, be referred to the Board of war, to
gether with such complaints as have been lodged against
General Arnold.
March 1, 1779.
FOR TY DOLLARS REWARD.
DESERTED from the town of Carlins, in the
state of Pennsylvania, Serjeant THOMAS
WHITELY, belonging to the seventh Pennsylvania
regiment, about thirty years of age, and five feet eight
or nine inches high, speaks much on the Scots dialed,
and is by trade a watch and clock maker; took with
him his regimentals, blue faced with red, and is sup
posed to be gone either to Frederick-town in Maryland,
or Stanton in Virginia, being acquainted in those places,
or probably to Conococheague settlement, having a wife
there. Whoever takes up said deserter and secures him.
in any gaol, or delivers him in charge to any Officer
commanding a party to camp, so that the regiment may
get him, (hall receive the above reward.
WILLIAM IRVINE, Col. feventh' P. R.