The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-08-28 00:00:00, page 2

Prom the Nova-Scotia Gazette, dated July 3.
BASSETERRE.
It is certain that when the last accounts came from
windward, and that is not above four or five days ago,
that the British and French fleets were in fight of each
other ; that, in a short time, we hope we shall be able
to give a glorious though perhaps melancholy account
of their proceedings.
We are glad to hear that the admiral intends, if he
should be fortunate enough to bring the enemy to a
close and general engagement, to fhift his flag to a fwift
failing frigate, that he may be able to infped the con
duct of ad parts of his fleet, and enforce his orders.
This is a measure that has been long wanting in the
British navy: if we are not mistaken, lord Howe was
toe firft who broke through these rigid punctilios,
whle in America. Nobody doubted his lordfllip's
courage, which had been exerted often in the service
of his country to great and glorious purposes. Admi
ral Rodney (land, as fair in the,annals of reputation as
any gentleman who ever failed from Britain. The e
ditor remembers him to have been a commodore so long
ago as the year 1746. In the year 1749 he was sent by
government in search of an ill and falfely said to have
been discovered : and so high was he in the eflimation
of the good old king, that, had the discovery been made,
he had the royal permiflion to call it Rodney's iflind.
Since that early period he has gone through an exten
five round of naval service. Lal war he took Mar
tinique; and we trust in God he will this war have the
honour of making a present of that island to his majes
ty. If his kin^ end country hold his life and abilities
in such high estimation as to entrufttheir nearest and
dearest concerns in toe weflern world to his care, it
would border on high treason to the Rate, and the
blackest ingratiude to his prince, should he wantonly
hazard a life on which so much depended. We hope
he will go on board the frigate.
Politician assure us that the French admiral's prin
cipal concern seems to be how to convey the fuccours
to Hifpanjola, which that island (land so much in need
of, and which at this time are lying at Martinique.
The far of the British squadron has hitherto retard
ed their departure ; and it is said, that M. de Treavil
i e is to convoy them, with the homeward bound ships
now ready to fail to the Cape, where he is to take that
trade under convoy to a certain latitude, where he leaves
th°m under the care of half his fleet for Franca, while
himfelf is to proceed to America, and endeavour to a&
against admiral Arbuthnot, in conjunction with the
French (hips already there. But it is more than pro
bab'e this notable scheme may be difeoncerted, should
they happen to have a serious meeting with our admi
ral.
Sunday morning arrived from Penobfcot, his majes
ty's armed ship Allegiance, on board of which came
Brigadier general Campbell, 74th regiment, comman
der of his majefly's forces in the province of Nova
Scotia, and several other officers.
N E W-Y O R K. August 22.
An account of what befel the schooner Surprize, cap
tain Ross, who failed from Sandy Hook, the 29th ult.
The 29th in the evening we failed in company with
the fchoone General Arnold,[about 12 o'clock at night,
the watch upon deck saw a schooner close under our
lee, which they took to be our consort, but on her com
ing close alongside and ordering us to strike, at the
fine time pouring in a broadside which wounded three
men, we were obliged to strike before a match or any
light could e get, the watch having neglected to have
a light ‘ —fhe proved to be the Young Cromwell cap
tain Reed, of New-London, the captain used us very
geuteely, we arrived at New Lo d>n, cn the 31st, and
were immediately paroled. The tirfl of Augufl, the
ship Hannah, captain Watson, from London for New
York, with a cargo of 80,0001. flerling, was captured
by the Minerva, captain Saltonftall, of 18 guns, after
am engagement of near two hours, they had two or
three men only wounded on both sides. The evening
we were taken fell in with his majefly's sloop of war
the Swallow, from Barbadoes with dispatches for ad
miral Graves, (he informed us (he had an engagement
with a brig a little before, but beat her off, she proved
to be, on her arrival here, the brig Sampson of 18 fixes,
and who had put in here to refit, being much damaged,
foe had 4 men killed and 14 wounded ; the Swallow
had 3 men wounded, (he carries on 14 fours. The 3d
the br g la Fayette brought in his majefly's tender
brig Kitty, she was in quest of the fleet, and had a
short engagement. The sth, the sloop Jay brought in
the brig — , from Waterford for New York, laden
with provisions, &c. Same day arrived the ,
who had an engagement with the general Arnold, and
had two men killed and several wounded.
Tuesday evening last, captain William Harding,
with about 40 men belonging to the refugee post on
Bergen Neck, made an excurfiou to Newark, in New-
Jersey, with an intention of furprizing a party of re
bel fix months men, Rationed at that place, but hap
pening to fall in with a patrole of only two men just
on the borders of the town, one of which they took
prisoner, but the other fired and ran off; by which
means the rebels were alarmed, and in consequence
those gallant spirits were difappeinted of their objed;
however they took four prisoners and collected about
thirty head of cattle, which they conducted back with
them to fort Delancey, on Bergen Neck. On this oc
cafian Mr. J. Coupar was unfortunately killed in at
tempting to make a prisoner of the patrole, who occa
sioned the alarm, and whom it was in his power to
have killed, but which in obedience of orders he for
bore in consequence of which he loft his own life,
and his majesty a loyal fubjeH and good soldier, he
having distinguished himfelf as such on many occasions.
The following is an accurate lift of the prizes brought
into this port, since Saturday the iith instant, by se
veral of his majefly's ships, and sundry privateers.
Ships of war.—The Trumbull frigate, captain Ni
cholson, of 32 guns, by his Majefly's ships the Iris
and General Monk.
The Bellifarius, of 24 guns, captain Munro, from
Sa em, by his Majefly's frigates the Amphetrite, Me
dea, and Virginia privateer, belonging to messieurs
Shedden and Goodrich.
The Aurora, of 24 guns, by his majefly's ship Roy
al Oak.
The brig Mariamne, captain Whipple, of 16 guns,
by his majefly's frigate the Medea.
The Mercury of 10 guns, captain Lothrop, by the
General Monk, captain Rodgers.
The privateer schooner Refourfe, captain Audet, of
10 guns, by his majefly's ship the Solebay.
Merchantmen.- The letter of marque ship revo
lution, captain M'Naughton, of 20 guns, by the Tri
umph captain Stout, and Hibernia, captain Dimpfey,
from Philadelphia for the Cape.
Schooner Stephen, captain Kelly, by ditto and the
General Arnold.
The ship Jack and Harry, captain Noel, by his ma
jefly's frigate the Amphion, &c. &c. from Salem for
the Weft-Indies, with lumber and fifh.
Brig Mary retaken by ditto.
Brig Two Sillers, Mons. Nevour, mailer, by the
Savage sloop of war, and Virginia privateer.
Brig Experiment, captain Stephens, by the Iris and
General Monk.
Sloop Fortune, captain Miller, by his majefly's ship
Beaumont.
Sloop Delight, captain Charie, by the barge Lady's
Delight, captain Urian.
Brig Maria, captain Hawkins, from London for Ha
lifax, loaded with provisions, taken by the rebel brig
Venus, captain Moore, belonging to Pifcataqua ; but
retaken by his majefly's ship Chatham.
A lugger called I'Amiable Elizabeth, Jean E. Bub
lel, master, from I'Orient, fcr Philadelphia, with dry
goodsand wine, by his majefly's ship Solebay.
The latest accounts from Albany, inform us, that
Mr John Bleecker, late of New- York, had been mad°
a prisoner of, and carried away to Canada. The rebel
general Philip Schuyler, narrowly escaped being taken
by the fame stratagem, but by firing out of his house,
and alarming the neighbourhood, he for that time
escaped.
A party of loyalists have been down within about
twelve miles of colonel Haforouck's, on the North.
River, and set fire to, and consumed 1S houses; it is
supposed the place thus destroyed, is either Marble
town or Monbuccus.
The following are genuine particulars relating to his
majefly's sloop Swallow, commanded by captain
Wells, and collated from a young gentleman an of
ficer, arrived yesterday from Fire Island, the vessel
had been dispatched hither express from the Weft-
Indies.
" When the Swallow was coming on the coast of
America, she was chafed by a ship and brig, when ano
ther brig appeared a-head, and also gave chace to her,
the Swallow shortened fail, and engaged her for three
quartersof an hour, when she set fail, and the (loop's
rigging being much cut and dark night coming on fa
voured the enemy's escape. Information has since been
obtained, that the brig was the Sampson, capt. Brooks,
of 18 fix pounders, who had four men killed and four
teen wounded, seven of which died the next day, and
four of her guns dismounted ; the Swallow had three
men wounded, and received no damage but in her rig
ging. The brig a-flern was called the Mbfes, and
might have come up during the action, but said the
other was so anxious to keep the prize to himfelf (be
fore he knew her to be a vessel of force) that they
might be taken and be d -n'd.
" On the 12th inst. the Swallow fell in with a brig
privateer, called the Venus, of ten nines and four three
pounders, formerly a letter of marque from Antigua,
but having taken a prize the crew joined and took the
vessel from the master ; (heengaged the sloop two hours
and then flruck, the captain of her being previously
killed: the Swallow had four men wounded, our cap
tain Wells was blown up by a cartridge of powder ta
king fire.•
" On the 16th, having the Venus our prize in tow,
and lauding in for the Hook, about twelve leagues dis
tant the Swallow was cut off by four privateers, viz.
two brigs, a schooner, and a sloop, names unknown;
we ran our vessel on shore to prevent our falling into
the rebels hands; and with great difficulty saved our
people, as the enemy kept a continual fire over the
fmali island we ran upon (Fire Island). They burnt the
Swallow and her prize the next day, finding it impossi
ble to get her off, and we all imagine the enemy retped
no further advantage. Our captain is getting well af
ter the unlucky difafler from the explosion."
BOSTO N, Augufl 16.
Yeflerday arrived here, in 50 days from Brest, his
most chriflian majefly's frigate Magicienne, of 36 guns,
together with a transport, having on board clothes and
warlike stores of all kinds, on account of the United
States. A number of French gentlemen of the army
and navy, came passengers in the frigate, among whom
is colonel Armpng, a gentleman who has highly distin
guished himfelf in the cause of the United States; he
has brought over with him, arms, clothing, &c. com
pleat for his legi n, now at head-quarters.
By these vessels we have a confirmation of the tak
ing of the homeward bound 'Statia fleet, of 25 fail,
the two British ships, their convoy, escaped ; the value
of those taken, is eflimated at fifteen million of French
livres: That the French grand fleet failed from Brest
the 23d of June, in order to join the Spanish fleet at
Cadiz, which, when effect d, will amount to 40 fail of
the line, besides frigates, &c. That the Dutch fiet, of
about 20 fail of the line, were Bill lying at the Texel :
That the British grand fleet, of 23 or 24 ships of the line,
were in port, and it is said will not attempt to put t,
sea: That M. de Suffrin, commanding five French Blips
of the line, on his passage to the Eafi-Indies, met with
commodore Johnft®n, who had also under his command
five British ships of the line, and a number of transports,
bound, it is said, on an expedition against the Dutch
settlements at the Cape of Good-Hope, when the squa
drons of both na ions had an engagement, and after a
severe conflict, the British gave way, and were forced
to seek proteaion under the guns of a fort on the
coafl of Portugal; the French took two British trans.
ports of the above fleet : That the Dutch at the Cap e
of Good- Hope were strongly fortifying that place, and
that a British ship, very richly laden, inadvertenly go
ing into that port, was taken by the Dutch.
By a vessel arrived in a neighbouring port, in fifteen
days from Guadaloupe, we learn, that nine fail of
French men of war, having under convoy 70 transports,
were fafe arrived at Martinico from France.
A brig with about 250 hogsheads of rum and sugar,
taken by the Auftra and Hermoine frigates, arrived at
Portsmouth last week.
Saturday last a prize brig laden with about 150 chests
of tea, bound from London for Quebec, arrived at Sa
lem.
Sunday arrived fafe, a prize brig, bound from Guern
fry to Quebec, laden with wine, gin, &c. taken by the
Robin Hood.
A number of very valuable prizes have arrived fafe
in port since our last.
Monday last a cartel arrived here, in 11 days from
Halifax, in which came capt. Joseph Olney, late com
mander of the privateer ship Independence, belonging
to Providence, and capt. George W. Babcock, of the
ship Venus, of this port; with most of their refpe&ve
crews; together with captain Chifm, of a privateer
brig from Portsmouth, who inform, that they were
lately captured by the British frigate Danae, captain
Thomas Lloyd, from England bound to Halifax, who
had under her convoy a fe n t ofrbout 12 fail, and hav
ing on board fir Andrew Snape Hammond, governor
of Halifax. Tiie above captains, together with their
crews, were used with uncommon humanity and kind
ness, nit only when on board, but also on their arri
val at Halifax, both by the captain and the governor,
and they take this method of publicly teftifying their
gratitude to those gentlemen for the fame.
In the above cartel returned Mr. William White,
merchant, of this town, who went thither by permissi
on from this government, from whom we have receiv
ed a letter, with a delire that it might be made public,
for the benefit of those who may hereafter be taken
prisoners and carried to Halifax.
Yeflerday arrived here a cartel from St. John's,
Newfoundland, with 400 prisoners, lately taken and
carried in there, belonging to the following vessels, viz.
brig Shark, capt. Alien, Boston ; Blip Congress, capt.
Ropes, Salem ; ship Lewey, ca pt. Nicholas, Portfmouh;
brig Active, capt Pattin, Beverly ; sloop Fish-Hawk,
B verly : brig New-Adventure, capt. Neill, Be
ver'y ; ship Oliver Cromwell, capt. Bray, Beverley ;
capt. Storer, letter of marque ship, Portsmouth.
A Halifax paper, of July 27, fays, " Yeflerday ar
rived from England fir Andrew Snape Hammond, lieu
tenant governor of this provice, commissioner of his
majefly's yard, with his jady and two children. We
can assure the public from indisputable authority, that
a negociation for a general peace, is Bill going forward
at Vienna—That the ambassadors from the several
courts interefled are appointed, and that the success of
it is not doubted.
S ALE M, August 14.
Since our last arrived fafe in harbour, a prize brig
antine to the privates ship Porus, captain Carnes, of
this port.
Also arrived, a snow prize to the privateer brig
Montgomery, captain Hobbs.
Last Friday arrived here a brigantine, prize to the
the privateer brig Cato, captain Ferfon ; her cargo
cenfifts of wine, brandy, &c.
Saturday arrived at Beverly, a schooner prize to the
brig Fortune, captain Ives, of that port; her cargo
chiefly provisions.
Another prize arrived fafe, taken by the privateer
(hip Disdain, captain Patterson.
N E W-L ONDO N, August „•
Thursday evening of last week, a sloop laden with
boards, captured tne south fide of Lo?g Island, was
brought in by a galley belonging to Pennsylvania.
Saturday an empty schooner was sent in by the Young
Cromwell private .r
Sunday was sent in a schooner loaded with lumber,
from Penobfeot bound to New York, prize to the
Young Cromwell, Randolph and Active privateers.
Last Sunday the brig Sampson, ca'ptain Brooks, sent
into Connecticut river, a schooner laden with flour;
she was one of the fleet which failed from the Delaware
with the Trumbull frigate, but was taken by the Brit
ilh, and retaken going into Sandy-Hook.
HARTFOR D, August 21.
It appears by a lift published by the royal marine
of Spain, that the (hips of war and privateers of that
nation, had in the course of the last year, taken from
the English 325 ships, viz. Taken by Don Cordo
va 57, including 5 Indiamen ; Don Langara 30; Caf
ton 27; Galvez 32 ; Barcelo 97; and 4 Bilanders ;
and by privateers 78 ships. 1
We learn from New-York, that since the depart
ure of Arbuthnot, our countrymen, prisoners there,
have been treated with a considerable degree of huma
nity, by the particular orders of admiral Graves.
ANNAPOLIS, August 23.
We have the pleasure to assure the public from the
best authority, that the troops under the command of
generals Sumpter and Marion and li utenant colonel
Le, mentioned in our last as detached against Monk's
Corner and Dorchefier, have been in a great measure
fuccefsful They obliged the enemy to abandon their
works at Bigger's church, and captured all their bag
gage ; took upwards of 140 prisoners, k lied an equal
number, with the inconsiderable loss ol 20 killed and
40 wounded. At Boger's church several wiggons and
200 horses fell into our hands, one of the waggons
loaded with ammunition. Four vessels filled with (lores
were taken and destroyed; amongst the (lores there
were 70 pipes of wine. Lee's legion behaved on this
occasion with their usual gallantry, and th? Bate horse
and militia of South-Carolina, afled with an address
and bravery, that would have done honour to the ve
terans of any country, although engaged with theene
my for near two hours, between the distance of 40
and 80 yards, they flood firm and unmoved. This
manoeuvre has been attended with some of the desi
red confeguences; it has obliged Rawdon to move