The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1783-03-18 00:00:00, page 2

HAMBUR G, November 23.
TH E harvest has been very great in the provinces
of Poland. The prices of corn has fallen much
at Dantzick. The last of barley, whicn was up at
280 florins, is fallen to 210, and is expected to fall
Bill lower.
The king of Prussia hae written to the bishop, fuf
frages 0 Breflaw, and the aportolic vicar of thediocefe,
and principally to the communities and monasteries, a
a so emit declaration, which has been published, that
whilst tney behave as dutiful and faithful fubjefts,
they have nothing to tear from him; that he will vary
mottling in their contributions, nor require any thing
urther of the communities, much less confiscate their
not fee why the noble earlin the blue ribband thought
- it necessary to afer be to the two noble lords, any other
than public and manly motives for the question they
had put and urged. He had talked of the crime of
embarrassing ministers, and torturing them with un
frafonable questions, as if he had never been himfelfin
the habit, when out of office, of pressing hard on mi
nifters, and forcing them into difficulties, from pro
positions which they could not meet, and questions
which they dared not answer, no noble lord having
been more, or indeed so much accustomed to do this,
as the noble earl; it was somewhat singular that he
should have this as the topic of his censure. It was
his clear opinion that the ambiguity of which the no
ble earls complained, did exist, anl that there was an
absolute necessity that some explanation Should be
given of the words which exprefled so different a mean
ing from that evidently complied in the king's speech
and in the letter of the secretary of Bate. He was
fully convinced, that this country ought, by all means,
to declare America independent, and if this was not
done irrevocably and finally, it was done wrong. By
the very name of this agreement he was alarmed : it
was called a provisional agreement, and the provision
was, that it depended on the conclusion of a treaty of
peace with France, by which America was rendered
dependent on that pewer for peace.
The earl of Derby animadverted freely what had
fallen from the noble lord in the blue ribband, and said,
tha* many proofs as he had heard of bis oratorical ta
lents, he never had heard him with so much astonishment
as on that day. He said, that there were many cases
in which he averred the parliament had a right to know
the particulars of a treaty before it was finally deter
mined. The punishment of miniflers would be no
compensation for the loss of important possessions,
which they might squander in the hope of keeping
their places at the expence of their country. For in
fiance, fays he, if any minifler should be found wicked
and profligate enough to think of giving up, in a trea
ty, the unconquerable fortrefs of Gibraltar, what other
protection can the kingdom have in so alarming a mo
ment, than that by knowing the fad, they might have
an opportunity to prevent it? He reprobated the idea
of opposing the mioifttr from dishonest and uncandid
views.
The duke of Richmond rose to declare, that in all
his tranfadions with the noble earl and the rest of his
colleagues in the cabinet, he had found no variation
of (entimcht, no change of conduit with refped to
America, nor had he any distrust in his integrity from
any thing that he had seen since he came into office.
Their principles were still unchanged.
Earl Fitzwilliam reminded the noble duke, that the
noble earl had placed himfelf in his present situation
by means not perfectly confident with the principles
of those men with whom his grace had always acted.
The principles of those men, in which he had been
educated, and in which he should die, would never ad
mit that a prime minrfler should be established on
such a foundation as the noble earl had been.
The earl of Shelburne called the noble earl to order.
He said, that it had always been the pride of his life
to Band unconnected with party; and to rejed party
as an unconstitutional thing. He flood single in de
claring, that he would never refer to that means either
of placing himfelf in his situation, or supporting him
felf in it.
Earl Fi zwilliam said something in answer to this,
and after a few more words the conversation dropt.
Lord Granthin then rose to move the thanks of the
house to the gallant general Elliott, lord Howe, and
the other officers engaged in the defence and relief
of Gibraltar.' The motions were the fame as those
passed the day before in the house of commons, and
they passed without debate, nemine contiadicente.
flitutioe was, that it trolled in the crown the secrets
which must necessarily attend all negotiations with
foreign powers. He could easily conceive, he (aid, a
case in which the people of this country might (peak
to the crownin such language as this: " Sire, we called
in the aid of your illustrious family, to save us from
popery and arbitrary power. We have for three ages
reaped the benefits of their attention to our iatere fts
and welfare, but not thinking that monarchy is any
longer effentjal to our security, freedom, and happi
nefs, we are determined to do all the business of the
crown ourselves: in our public councils we will deli
berate on negociations for peace, and consult on the
propriety of war; we will do all this ourselves; and
therefore, with many thanks for your care and kind
nefs, we make you a bow, and intr-at you to relinquish
the trufl " He cou d conceive all this, and imagine
that a case might arise in which this would become a
very important question for difeuffion ; but while the
crown did remain a part of our constitution, and those
negociations were trusted to the prerogative, re could
have no idea nor conception of t eir calling for the
secrets of any negociations which the king might be
carrying on for the purpofs of peace Tie noble earls
thought there was no danger in disclosing the treaty
in question. They thought so, not knowing what it
may contain ; and, therefore, the best answer to this
assertion was, that those peers, who did not know the
fobjea matter of that treaty, were of opinion that there
was danger in its exposure, and they therefore refuf
edit.
Lord viscount Townfhend profeffed, that he could
eflates, upon condition, notwitli standing, that they
behave as good and faithful fubjeds^ efpecialiy in
war time. If they fheud transgress, that they must
charge their deßreaion upon themselves.
Nov. 30. A lift which is said to be authentic, car
ries the population of the provinces of Galicia and Lo
domeria, in Poland (these dißrids were a few years
since seized upon by the emperor of Germany) to the
number of 1,112,442 men, and 1,093,311 women, all
of the chriflian religion, besides 68,601 men, 70,472
women of the Jewiffi nation; in the whole 2,344,826
persons. They reckon within these dates 1066 catho
lic churches, 2955 of the Greek churches, 188 monas
teries, 28 nunneries, 2722 monks, 678 nuns, 483 hos
pitals, and 244 synagogues.
The emperor has lately withdrawn his garrison from
the city and fortrefs of Plillipfburg, and delivered it
up to the prince, bishop of Spire, as the lawful sove
reign. All belonging to the emperor has been fold,
save the cannon, whic 1 tie has transported in 0 his do
minions. Tois evacuation * has been notified to the
diet, in order thar the property of this city and its
dependencies, at pre en and hereafter, may be eflab
lifhcd in the bithop and hi successors.
BRUSSELS, Dec mber 10.
Letters from Geneva contain accounts of the success
of the powers, wni h united to re-eßabbfll the peace of
that city. They are to rue following effeß:
'' The ministers p ! en potentiary, after examining the
scheme of an edict which a committe of the councils
had drawn up, to terminate all disputes and to re
eftabhfh the government upon a f<>lid basis, sent it to
their refpeHive Sovereigns, who approved of it. This
scheme was then returned to the fyndick, to obtain the
approbation of the three councils. It firft received the
fanaion of the lef and greater councils, as usual; but
before it was carried to the general council for their
approbation, the ministers of the three powers requir
ed that all the citizens who took arms and usurped
authority during the late troubles, should be depriv
ed of their right to vote. The laws of toe republic con
demn them to heavy penalties In fine, on the 21* of
November the general council assembled, approved
the edia by 411 voices against 113. This proceeding,
which set the seal to the new law, undr which the
republic is hereafter to be governed, being finished, a
general pardon was published, out of which, 19 per
sons only were excepted, viz. two miniflers deposed
from their offices; 7 leaders in the late infurreaion
are banished forever, and ten others for 10 years only,
after which they may return to their country, if two
thirds of the councib,oftwo hundred,confeot. After the
publication of this ordinance,,he marquis de Jaucourt,
mmifter of France, the count de la Marmora, minitbr
of Sardinia,nd messieurs Steignes and Watteville,who
were deputed by the canton of Berne, successively,
took their leaves of the republic, and received teftimo
nies of the warmed gratitude from all orders, for
the generous benevolence, with which his mod chrif
tian majesty, the king of Sardinia, and the state of
Berne, had interposed to relieve the city. Some
troops of the three powers dill remain in Geneva,
till the forces of the republic fhal be formed, and be
put in a proper condition to maintain for ever, the
publicquiet. This revolution is the more valuable to
us, as there is already a great number of reprefentant
citizens, eager to manifeft their acquiescence in the
new edill, and as we hope, that very shortly we (hall
only number among the malcontents only, those a
gainftwhom, rough treatment has been indispensable
and some of their partizans."
* Superbe, Sultan, Hero, Monarca, Burford, Ex
eter, Magnanime, Monmouth, Worcester, ^age, ffis,
Seahorse, Combustion firelhip.
LONDO N.
Admiralty Office, November 30, 1782.
Extraß of a letter from fir Edward Hughes to Mr.
Stephens, dated on board his majesty's ihip Superbe,
in Trincamale Bay, May 10, 1782.
I HAD the pleasure to address you by letter on the
4th of last month, and have now that of communicat
ing to you for their lordships further information, an
account of the iranfaftions of his majesty's squadron,
as per margin,* and of the enemy's to thistime.
In my laß I mentioned the juoHion of his majesty's
ships Sultan and Magnanime with the squadron on the
goth of March ; both ships were then very sickly, and
much reduced by the scurvy : but as I had on board
the squadron a reinforcement of troops for this garri
son, and a quantity of military Bores, I judged it
mod for the public ftrvice, efpecialiy as I knew the
enemy's squadron was to the southward, not to return
to Madras to land the sick and scorbutic of these two
ships, but to proceed direftly for Trincamale, and
there to land the reinforcement and military Bores, as
well as the sick of the Sultan and Magnanime, with
out either seeking or shunning the enemy.
In pursuance of tbi^ resolution I flood with the
squadron to the southward, and on the 6th of April
fell in with a French ship, lad from Mauritus, having
on board dispatches from France for their commanders
in chief by sea and land ; this ship was chafed on fllore
and burnt near Traoquebar, the officers and men
escaping with the dispatches.
On the Bth, about 00011, I came in fight of the ene
my' sfquadron, confifliig of 18 fail, in the N. E quar
ter, and continued my course for this place. On the
9th, 10th and 11th, the enemy Bill in fight On the
tith, having made the coaß of Ceylon, about 15 lea
gues to windward of Trincamale, I bore away for that
place. On the 12th, at daylight, the position of the
enemy's squadron being altered by my bearing away,
so as to give them the wind of our's, I discovered
them crowding all the fail they could set aft-us; and
their copper bottomed ships coming faft up with the
ships in our rear,! therefore determined to engage them.
At nine in the forenoon I made the figual for the
ships in our squadron to form the line of battle a-head,
on the Barboard tack, at two cables length diflance
from each other, the enemy then bearing N. by E.
distant about fix miles, and the wind at N. by E. they
continued maneuvering their ships, and changing their
positions in their line, till 15 minutes past noon, when
they bore away to engage us ; five fail of their van
flretching along to engage the ships of our van, and
the other seven fail fleering dire&y on our center
ships, the Superbe, the Monmouth her second a-head,
and the Maparca her second a-stern. The French ad
miral in the Hero, and his second a Bern the L'Orient,
bore down on the Superbe within pistol shot. The
Hero continued her position, giving and receiving a
severe fire for nine minutes, and then flood on,
greatly damaged, to attack the Monmouth, at that
time engaged with another of the enemy's ships, mak
ing room for the ships in his rear so come up to the
attack of our center, where the engagement was hot
test. At three, the Monmouth had her mizen mast
fhotaway, and in a few minutes a f ter, her mainmast,
and bore out of the line to leeward. At forty minute,
pad three, the wind unexpectedly continuing far
northerly, without any sea breeze, and being care-#
ful not to entangle our ships with the shore, I made
the signal for the squadron to wear, and haul their
wind in a line of battle a-head on the larboard tack.
Bill p ngaging the enemy. At fortyTminutes past five,
being in fifteen fathom water, and apprehensive left
the Monmouth might, in her disabled state, drift too
near the shore, I made the signal for the squadron to
prepare to anchor. At forty minutes pass fix, the e
nemy's squadron drew offin great disorder to the eafl
ward, andthe engagement ceased, their admiral hav
ing fhifted his flag from the Hero to the French Han
ibal, on account of the Hero's disabled state; and
soon after I anchored with the squadron, the Superbe
close to the Monmouth, in order 0 repair our da
mages, which on board the Superbe and Monmouth,
were very great in the hulls, mails, fails and rigging,
and almofl all the ships had fuffered considerably in
their m ifls, fails and rigging.
Much about this time the French frigate la Fine,
being ordered, I suppose, to tow and assist their dis
abled ship the Hero, fell on board bis majefly's ship
ifis, and had a&ually Bruck his colours to her ; but
taking advantage of the darkness of the night, and
the state rhe Isis was in, just come out of aßion, in
which the had a number of men killed and wound
ed, and otherwise ill manned, the frigate got clear
of the Isis, and escaped.
An account of the number of officers and men killed
and wounded on board the federal ships of the squad
ron, is herewith enclosed.
On the morning of the 13th at day light, T found
the enemy's squadron bad anchored about five mile#
wirhout us, in much disorder and apparent distress,
but they had loft no lower mafls : both squadrons were
bufly employed in repairing damages, drawing into
order for defence, the enemy seeming to apprehend an
attack from us, and I myfelf uncertain if they would
not renew the engagement, in order to get hold of the
Monmouth. In these situations both squadrons con
tinued at anchor till the 19th in the morning, when
the enemy's got under fail with the land wind, arid
flood out to sea close hauled, and at noon tacked with
the sea breeze, and flood in for the body of our fqua.
dron, as if with intent to attack, but after coming
within two miles of us, finding us prepared to receive
them, they again tacked and flood to the eastward by
the wind; and I have not since been able to learn cer
tainly where they are gone. Having refitted the Mon
mouth in the best manner our situation would admit,
with jury, main and mizen masts, I failed with his
majesty's squadron for this place on the 22d, and an
chored here on the evening of the fame day, imme
diately landing the reinforcement and military Bores
defined for the garrison, and the sick and wounded.
In this situation of the squadron and its men; I
thought it bed for his majesty's service to remain at
anchor here, and to set about the repairs of the hull,
masts and rigging of the several ships, whilst the sick
enjoy every benefit of frefh meat, vegetables and wine,
on shore, for their recovery.
I have the fatisfaßion to inform their lordships,
that I shall be a Ie to remift the Monmouth by the
end of this month, from the spare Bores on board the
several ships ; and that the damage they sustained in
the last engagement will be every way made good a
bout that time.
Abßraf lof the killed and wounded on board his ma
jefly'sfhips, viz.
Ships. Killed. Wounded. Total.
Superb, 59 96 155
Exeter, 4 40 44
Magnanime, — 7 7
Monmouth, 45 102 147
Monarca, 7 28 35
Worcester, 8 26 34
Burford, 6 36 42
Eagle — 22 22
Hero, 2 13 15
Suhan, —9,
Isis; 6 51 57
137 430 567
Among the killed were the following officers, viz.
Superbe. Two lieutenants, maftef.
Monmouth. One lieutenant of marines.
Worcester. One lieutenant.
Burford. One lieutenant of marines
Names not mentioned.
[Here follow letters from admiral Hnghe«, dated the
2d and 15th June, giving an account that the French
fleet, of 18 fail had arrived at Batacalo, a Dutch port
2c leagues south of Trincamale; and that they had
failed from Batacalo about the 11th June, supposed
for the coast of Coromandel, to co operate with Hyder
Ally and their own land forces: and that he was pre
paring to follow them.]
=™ -— ^-^r= ^=!=^=—!== ±^ ===!TSMJ V-gs ~^^^= Sy*s
TO BE SOL D, A
Good Bill of Exchange on Cape
Francois, for Eleven Hundred and Fifty-nine Dollars-
Enquire of the Priner. March |B<