The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1783-02-20 00:00:00, page 2

The fate of the Ramillies, and the convoy under vice
admiral Grave's charge, being of a nature to engage
public attention, ne insert the following interesting
extract from the journal of one of the officers of
the Ramillies, as far as relates to the hurricanes, which
were similar to those that destroyed so many of his
majefly's (hips in the Weft-Indies, in the year 1780,
when the Th nderer, Stirling Caflle, and several
flips of the royal navy were cast away—with this
difference, that the hurricanes by which the last
mentioned calamity was produced, began in a more
southerly latitude, and at an earlier period of the
year. Ey the extract before mentioned it appears,
that the admiral attended to the convey to the ut
mofi of his power; that the sudden fhift of the wind
to an opposite fide of the compass, accompanied with
an inflant storm, was of a nature as extraordinary,
as its consequences were terrible, and was least to be
expected in a northerly course, where the weather
is not fubjeft to such sudden variation. And that
his attention to his own ships, refufirg all fort of dif
tinßion during the storm, was such as deserves imi
tation in all trials of equal diftrefg.
Sept. 15th, 1782. —Repeated signals thrown out for
the convoy to coiled and fail in better order, being
much scattered, owing to their inattention to the
Mal for tacking. A strong breeze from E. S. E.
There is no permanency, fays a correspondent, in
human happiness, and fortune Sometimes indulges men
with her most, propitious smiles, only to make them
the more sensible of her fevered frowns; for she fhioes
upon some heads as the fun shines upon the inhabitants
of the frigid zone, who enjoy all its luflre for a few
months, and are obfeured in darkness the remainder of
the year.
Extraa of a letter from Glasgow, ORo. 24.
" In confe'quence of the late rife of meal, &c. the
prohibition for importation of grain is taken off, and
several boats are come to the Broomie law with oats,
which has for some time been lodged in cellars at Gree
nock, in consequence of this prohibition ''
A mod curious animal, resembling a porcupine,
was yeflerday morning taken alive, out of the shore
now opening through Little Britain into Alderfgate
ftreet. This curious Creature will furnifh matter for
fp(culation for the curious, who onlv can account for
it, and its miraculous exigence in such a situation.
We learn from Corke, that the Panther man of war,
of 74 guns, and his majesty's frigate Retaliation, have
captured nine fail of Dutch merchant vessels, and sent
them into different ports.
The citizens of London will flill a& up to that which
makes them proverbial. Their late debate in common
council! affcmbled was upon the old fubjed, Eating
and Drirking, Guttling and Gormandizing !
There are, fays a correspondent, to their shame be it
mentioned, Englishmen among us, who gnash their
teeth at thefun, and tell lim how they hate his beams,
who pine in corners over the glories of their country,
and who, like the three weird hags in Macbeth, hold
midnight revels, and contrive how they shall " meet a
gain when the hurl6y-burly is done.
November 23.
A late letter from Cadiz mentions, that the courts
of France and Spain had not abandoned their favour
ite object, the siege of Jamaica, for which purpose an
jmmenfe armament was preparing in both kingdoms,
for Havanna and Cape-Francois, where the squadrons
under the command of M- de Vaudreuille and don So
lano, it was expelled would be ready to co operate.
Though the king's fpeec'n should cry out for pe ce
and supplies, yet it does not follow that peace is now
upon the tapis. It is a necessary policy to be prepar
ed for a vigorous exertion in case the congress of the
belligerent powers should disagree; besides, as the
supplies, if granted, are never refunded, and as they
will be enormous if peace should be the consequence of
the meeting of the congress, they will be found very
necessary in the difeharge of arrears.
The Bates general have arrefled an ensign, one de
Witte, for having formed a conspiracy to deliver up
the island of Schowen to the English, who were to at
tack it with 1500 men. They have condemned him to
fuffer death as a traitor ; but the Bates of Holland and
Wefl-Friefland have presented a remonflrance against
this sentence, alledging, that as the plot formed by de
Witte was against a part of their own territory, he is
only amenable to their jurifdiHion. It is imagined,
that the hopes of making further difeoveries in this
mattter, has been the cause of the extraordinary step
of taking the English packet.
Foreign Intelligence.
LONDON, November r.
RIGID and undistinguished punishments, a cor
respondent observes, are highly impolitic, and
seem rather the effect of vengeance than the
aft of justice ; where criminals are numerous, and their
guilt unequal, the death of one or two capital delin
quents would as fully answer the purpose of example,
as the executing ten or twelve. A revision of our
penal laws is absolutely necessary ; they are too san
guinary, and a proper diferimination ought to be
made between crimes and punishments.
The trade to Hudson's Bay being annihilated by the
late capture of our settlements there, that to Quebec
will be carried on in a more extensive manner, and se
veral additional Ships will be sent up the river St. Law
rence in the spring.
An anonymous correspondent fays, a gentlemen is
lately arrived here from Paris, who was lately employ
ed by Dr. Franklin to fix the boundaries of those Ame
rican provinces which are agreed to be acknowledged
independent. There is also a gentleman arrived from
Paris, empowered by the French ministry to fettle Se
veral matters here relative to peace, which can be done
here more expeditiously than at Paris. So near is
peace being concluded, that the conditions of it are
expected to be finally fettled and disclosed in less than
a fortnight. The fate of Gibraltar, it is asserted, will
terminate the war.
16th.—Wind Bill at E. S. E. blowing frefhly. At
I P. M. the gale increased, with hazy weather. At
3, we took in our fore and mizen topsails. At 4, the
Cornwallis armed vessel came under our quarter, and
acquainted the officer of the watch her foremalt was
sprung: the admiral then on deck, spoke her, and en
quired what accident had befel any of the fleet? At 6,
the gale very strong—handed the mizen and topsail,
and brought to under the mainsail—the admiral on the
deck the whole time—the appearance of a storm com
ing on, prepared fcr it in every particular. At 12,
midnght, lieutenant Nash had charge of the watch —
3 feet 6 inches water in the well—the wind flill E. S. E.
blowing exceeding ftrong—capfain Moriarty and most
of tie officers on deck. At half past r, the pumps ex
amined—found two of the chained pumps choaked, and
all the chains broke—the remainder of the chain pumps
at work, and the hand pumps going very brifkiy—
water flill gaining in the well. At 2, very heavy rain,
and squally—several of the convoy near with lights—
fhewed a bgh on our q arter and foreca' Ie At 3,
the wind fhifted— a violent squall from the N. N. W.
without the fmalleff warning of a fhift—the main-fail
a-back —all hands turned up -the main clue garnets
manned --the captain and officers called up before we
could let go the tack or sheet, the main-mafi, mizen
maß, sore-top-mast, and fore yard carried over the
(hip's fide, and the tiller broke from the strong sea in
the rudder's head --the water in the well 4 feet 4 inch
es, and flill gaining on us, all the chain pumps being
choaked, the greatest part of the crew turned to hatch
ways Laleing -lieutenants Turnbull, Larcom, and Sil
ly, had charge, and affifled at this fatiguing duty —
captain Moriarty and the other officers employed in
cutting away the wreck, securing the rudder, and (hip
ping a new tiller in the wardroom. At day-light, no
fail to keep the Blip to—s feet 8 inches of water, and
flill encreafing- the ship labouring in exceeding dis
tress, and going at ran om- one of the convoy, at 5
A. M. foundering close to us--several near us difmaft
ed--and signals of distress making from all. At half
pad 5, shipped a new tiller. At half past 6, cleared
away the wreck, and put the ship before sea--a pro
digious (well of sea and heavy gale from the N. W.--
the ship labouring and flraiping very much. At 7,
saw the Canada, with her main-top-mast and mizen
gone--the Glorieux, with her foremaft, main top-mast
and bowsprit gone-and the Centaur totally difmafted.
At 8, got a top gallant-fail on the foremaft : employed
baleing at all hatchways and all our hand pumps go
ing. At to, 6 feet water in the hold-hard gal s flill
from N. W. with a prodigious fwelb At 2 p. M.
prepared to ease the ship, by throwing her guns otter
board. At 3, had hove thirteen guns and several (hot
over, during a heavy sea, which broke continually up
on us. At 4, a fail hailed us, and informed the ad
miral, who spoke her, that the Centaur's redder was
gone, and that the Ville de Paris was standing towards
her ; our ship in a bad flare, labouring much in the
trough of the sea.
17th. Strong gales with rain and sudden quail , find
we don't gain on thefhip. At 8, P. M. got a close
reefed topsail on the foreyard, the Canada Banding
from the fleet without signal, in apparent d stress.
18th. All hands taleing at the hatchways: the
hand pumps continually choaked up; the gale Bill
boiflerous; split the jury forefail; bent the fpritfail
to it, to keep up the ship. At 6, A. M. threw over
board 24 guns from the upper and quarter deck. At
8, 6 feet 6 inches water in the hold. At noon, 7 feet
in the well; 1 heavy sea; lat. obs. 43. 34. At 1 P.
M. threw overboard (he remain 'er of the guns from
the upper and quarter deck, and several shot; pay'd
the waterways with pitch, ard covered them over with
canvas; hands Bill baleing. At 4 P. M. Bore rooms
and magazine full of water; the ship exceedingly un
easy. At midnight, weather abated; find we gain
upon the ship ; 5 feet 6 inches only in the hold ; sud
den fhift of wind to the W. N. W. running before
the sea.
19th. More moderate at 6 A. M. At 8, hard
blowing weather; c^ t away the best and small bower
anchors from the bows; ship in a bad Bate and work
ing much ; worked down part of the orlop deck and
the cables in the hold. At 10, strong gales and (quails ;
don't gain on the ship ; hove over all the heavy Bores'
shot, junk, and powder; cut up the small bower and
sheet cables, and threw them over board with the pin
nace and cutter ; 14 of the convoy in fight.
20th. Weather more moderate. At , A. M. cut
away the spare and stream anchor; the crew exhaust
ed with the hard fatigue of three days, constantly bale
ing and other heavy duty, without the least r<B, d ur
ing which time no victuals could be dressed At 10
brought to, and made the signal for all maflers of
merchantmen. At 2, P. M. wind N. by E. with a
heavy (well from the N. W.
The celebrated Boerhaave ordered that all his ma
nafcriptf and books should be burnt, one large vo
lume, with giltleaves and silver elafps, excepted. The
phifical people flocked to Leyden, and entreated the
executors to disobey the will. The effeds were fold.
A German count, convinced that the great gilt book
contained the whole arcana of phyfick, bought it at
ten thousand gilders. It was all blank but the firfl
page, on which was written, “ Keep the head cool, the
feet warm, and the body open—and bid defiance to the
Physician."
lift. At 3, A. M 7 feet waterin the hold, and
increasing on us. At 6, repeated the signal to all
makers, &c. raised spars, hoisted out our remaining
boats, and began, with the boats of the merchantmen"
to fllift our people on board different fails of the con'
voy. At noon, 10 feet water in the hold; flill em
ployed fhifting our people, and getting up bread to
go with them ; the admiral prevailed on to leave die
ship, and go on board the Belle. At half past 3, s en t
away the last of our men. At 4, the ship having 15
fret water in the hold, captain Moriarty and the re
maining officers quirted the ship, when she was set on
fire; and in a few minutes the magazine aft blew up
and the wreck disappeared."
ANECDOTE.
BOSTO N, February 25.
Wednesday last the great and general court of this
commonwealth met at the Bate house in this town, a
greeable to prorogation, when they made choice of
the honorable Tristam Dalton, esquire, of New
bury-Port, for their speaker, in the room of the hon.
Nathaniel Gorham, esquire, chosen a member of
congress, who is gone forward.
Wednesday arrived fafe in port, a Blip of 20 guns,
prize to the continental frigate Hague, John Manley,
esquire, commander; she was from St. Lucia bound
to St. Martins, and has about 1600 barrels of provisi
ons on board. This is the fifth prize captain Manley
has sent into port on his late cruise.
We hear that a few day since Colonel Bassett, with a
number of men, captured a brig bound from New-
York, consigned to William Roach of Nantucket;
having on board a quantity of tea, duck and other
dry goods (besides about 200 bushels of fait, as a pre
fect from general Carleton to the poor inhabitants of
Nantucket) said to be worth five or fix thousand
pounds Berling, and carried her fafe into port.
RECEIPT of continental taxes for the month of
January, 1783, 17,898 dollars and 38-72.
JAMES LOVELL, receiver of
continental taxes for Massachusetts.
NEW-HAVEN, February 6.
The public are cautioned to beware of counterfeit
Spaoifh dollars ; they are dated 1779 ; evidently appear
to be base metal; they are easily distinguished from
the true ones, the workmanship beng very indifferently
executed.
Friday fe'nnight, in the evening, a large barn, be
longing to Mr. David Bishop. of Guilford, was consum
ed by fire, with about 20 tons cf hay.
PRO VI DE N -C~E, Jan. 25.
Captain Samuel Godfrey, in a brig from this Port,
was lately taken by a British ship of 64 guns, on his
passage from Cape Francois for North Carolina, and
ordered for New York ; but the brig was fortunately
met with 011 Monday laftby captain Read, in a galley
from Newpo t, who again altered her course, and she
arrived there on Tuesday last. Captain Godfrey, on
being captured, was ordered on board the British ship,
with some of his crew.
Captain Read has also taken and sent into Newport
a large brig from Antigua, bound for New-York, la
den with rum, coffee, &c,
Sunday last captain Phineas Potter arrived here in
12 days from Cape Francois.
ALBAN Y, January 20.
On Tuesday morning last, at 6 o'clock, died in the
fifty-feventh year of his age, the right honourable Wil
liam Alexander, earl of Stirling, vifeount of Canada,
major general in the service of the united Bates, and
commander in chief of the American forces in the
northern department.
N E W-Y & O R K, February 15.
By letters intercepted in the brig Ranger, who left
Nantz on the 23d of December, we learn, that on the
arrival at Paris, of an express from London, orders
were instantly sent to Brest, for the immediate failing
of the fleet, which accordingly left that harbour on
the 4th of December, confining of thirteen line of bat
tle ships, and sixty fail of transports.
Yesterday arrived the brigantine Observer, command
ed by lieutenant Crymes, from Halifax, with a prize
brigantine from Havanna, laden with sugar.
Also a ship bound to Boffon, said to be laden like
wise with sugar, prize tohis majesty's ship Amphitrite,
Rupert George, esquire, commander.
Extract ofa letter from a gentleman at Nantz, to his
father in New-Jerfcy, found on board the brig Ran
ger, dated December 11, 1782.
“ There is great talk of peace, and it is firmly be
lieved it will be proclaimed in twenty one days, which
makes a great stir, every one preparing for the Ame
rican trade, some for the English, and I believe our
ship will go to England before we return. I cannot
learn any thing about the combined fleet, where they
are, or what trey are doing. This country is plea
sant, but I do not like it."
By letters from Tortola we learn, that the priva
teer ship Juno, captain Casey, cf this port, has lately
captured and carried in ther-, a brig richly laden with
Weft. India produce ; also a French polacre, from Mar
feides, with a cargo, which, by the original invoices
then found, amounted to upwards of 15,000'. flerling,
prime cost in France, b ides a number of other arti
cles, the value of which was not then ascertained.
L O N D O N.
November 19. The Pallas frigate, of 44 guns, capt.
Vanderbeets, and the Venns of 24, capt. Willinfinck,
arrived the fame day at the Fly, with four vessels un
der convoy from the Sound; the Loo, the last of the
three Eaf llndia (hips who had flaid several months
at Drontheim appeared off the Texel, but by the re
turn of this vessel we had the mortification to learn
that the republic had loft another 64 gun ship, the
Ziericzee, captain John Schrorder Haringman, one of
admiral Van Kinfbergeo's squadron, who having
sprung a leak, put into Helfingor with between fix and
seven feet water in her hold, and it was though' "?*
would be obliged to go to Copenhagen to repa?%
the captain could not resolve to winter in , Denma rkf
so having repaired hi s fails, and flopped the le^k
well as he could, he left the Sound the ?ift of
with the ffo Med, b j k , fa ^ CT
merchant ship s ; having got out of the Sound,
we<eovertaken with a most violent eagerly ftornZ
w^tch forced them along the cnafl of Shetland, and
the night, between the ,ft and 2 d of November, the
Ziericzee had the misfortune to run ashore near Afdahl.
en miles from Ahlbo ur g h , as a!fo English prize
% V , enus: ^tenant Haringman and 100
men of the ship s company got on shore on the 2 d a
™°^ he ^ h "^° tb but his brotbe r, the captain,
and the other officers and fearnen remained on board,
in the most imminent danger. Ar American vessel,