The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-10-16 00:00:00, page 2

HAGU E, July 5.
SUNDAY morning a courier from Peferfourgh arriv-
ed here in 15 days. The dispatches he has brought
for the Rates general are relative to the mediation of
the empress for a general peace, in favour of which the
emperor has likewise declared, as far as we can learn,
to baron de Hop, minister from the Rates general at
Brussels, his readmefs to employ all his efforts, though
war would be very advantageous to his dominions 111
the Netherlands.
Paris, June 24. M. Joli de Fleury, administrator
general of the finances, has assured the nation, that for
three years to come he can support the expences of the
war, whether common or extraordinary, without lay
ing any new impositions on the people. He has been
so honourable as to declare, that he is chiefly indebted
to his preceffor (Mr. Neckar) for these advantages.
It is reserved for the reign cf Louis XVI. to (how the
nation ; that the prince who will take the pains to in
form himfelf, and give himfelf up to the care of govern
orient, may change his minißers without changing the
system of Rate.
LONDO N, June 12-
Lord Cornwallis's last dispatches contain another
melancholy proof of the inefficacy of this American
war. He has travelled to Wilmington at the expence
of some of the flower of the British forces, without get
ting one step towards a pacification or impr.ffi n on
the minds of the Congress or army, the least idea of
returning under the dominion of this country. Thus
from year to year, are we to be amused with marches
and counter marches, till population and our finances
fail us.
Every commendation that is due to the bravery, the
Ikill, and activity of lord Cornwallis and lord Rawdon,
carries within it the Rrongeß proof of the superior
number of American forces in that quarter.
The mere virture of our officers is too infirm a
ground for us to rest the hopes of our armies upon in
an enemy's country. The exertions of this principle
may do honour to individuals, but a reliance on this
alone reflets eternal disgrace on the minister, who
makes it his only trust for the fafety of our troops.
In what a situation should we have been in to Rand
againff the force of general Greene, with less able of
ficers than lord Cornwallis and lord Rawdon; and
while we have only the bravery of officers, and not an
equality of force to rely upon, how much have we to
fear for those moments when the most active virtue
may be found asleep, or fortune may refufe to grant
her extraordinary proteaion,
We hear that the objeft on which Mr. Fox is to
ground bis motion of this day relative America, is the
produce of our successes, and how far they have con
tributed, or are likely to contribute to a pacification.
Extract of a letter from Edinburgh, June 8.
" This day an express arrived from Hull, with in
telligence that lieutenant John Chefshyre of his majef
fly's ship Ariadne, made oath on Tuesday evening be
fore the mayor of Hul, that on Sunday afternoon, a
bout four o'clock, being 30 leagues E. S. E. of Flam
borough Head, the fhip's company discovered a large
ship and a cutter, to which they gave chafe ; that they
loon discovered the ship to be a Dutch two decked ship
of 50 guns at least, who in return chafed the Ariadue,
and the cutter after having spoke the ship, her consort
flood to the southward; that shortly after, the Dutch
ship, finding she could no f come up with the Ariadne,
hauled her wind and flood in for Flamborough Head,
and the Ariadne Rood for the Humber, where she ar
rived on Tuesday evening."
We hear that the trial and acquittal of fir Hugh Fa
lifer will be resorted to by the council for a late cauti
ous command r, in order to form his defence by
Such are the good eff.ds of precedents!
June 2,. Admiralty Office, June 23 1781.
Extraß of a letter from vice-admiral Arbuthnot, to
Mr. Stephens, dated off Staten-lfland, the 6th of
May 1781.
“ His majesty's ships, Roebuck and Medea, return
ing this evening from reconnoitring the harbour of
Rhode-Ifland, fell in with and have brought in with
them, the rebel frigate of war Protestor, of 26 guns
and 250 men, belonging to the colony of Massachusetts.
She is a very fine Ihip almost new, the feantlings and
size of our f igates of 28 guns, was on her return from
the Weft Indies, her firft cruise to Boston ; had been
out 8 months, and had taken four small vessels, three
of which were in ballast, and the other of small value."
Admiralty-Office, June 25, 1781.
Extract of a letter from vice-admiral Arbuthnot, com
mander in chief of his majesty's ships and vessels in
North-America, to Mr. Stephens, dated on board
the Royal Oak, off New-York, April 10, 1781.
“ I have great fatisfadion in acquainting you, that
the rebel frigate Confederacy arrived at this port yes
terday morning, having been captured off the Capes
of the Delaware, on the 14th instant, by his majesty s
ships the Roebuck and Orpheus. #
A She was bound from Cape Francois to Philadelphia,
commanded by Mr- Harding, and had on board 300
men at the time she was taken..
" The rebels have fuffered a great loss in this ship,
as she had a very configurable quantity of eloathing
for the rebel army, and Weft-India produce.
“ Her length is equal to that of our old 70 gun
ships, and will mount 28 eighteen pounders on her main
deck ; is well conftrufted and proportioned, and only
two years old."
St, JO HN's (Antigua,) September f.
The following is an extract of a lettei dated London,
4th July, written by a person possessed of the means
to acquire information infinitely more authentic than
that of the coffee-houfe politicians, to a gentleman in
this island, whole kindness in furnifhing us with it, we
gratefully acknowledge. , r .
* “ Our public affairs remain, I think, in the fame
endless labyrinth of war and difficulties ; and I can as
sure you that there is but one door at which the white
robed goddess Peace, can enter, and that is Vienna.
I happened very lately to come at a piece of intelligence
zefpeaing the dhpofition. of that court, and I can allure
BOSTO N, October 4.
Poor Rivington, ashamed it seems, to tell his own
story, has got a painter to give no very imperfect pic
ture of the late action at Cnefapeake. The Frencn we
know always fight at a dißance, and to no purpose.
This comes of course in Rivington's paper- However,
the painter acknowledges, diflant as t..e French fought,
that after the adion, the British ships, some of which
complained before, had their complaints greatly ag
gravated; and many others, that were well before,
were now so complaining as to be in the utmost hazard ;
a circumstance that required immediate attention. But
what adds to the woefulnefs of the p dure is, that all
these complaints of the British fleet, were Rill further
aggravated, not from the fear of another engagement
with the count de Graffe, who had already made them
so sick, but from the apprehension of an equinoctial
storm. Wirat could a British fleet do under such ag
gravated and fu peraggravated complaints, but retire
to New York to consult the bed physicians and surge
ons there, after burning one of their number, of which
there were no hopes. Hnd what is to be done at New-
York, but to make a repr-efentation of the aggravated
complaints of the whole British cause in America to
adminift ration, and earnestly to implore the advice and
assistance of all the Rate physicians in the kingdom.
His mod chrifii^n majesty having Den fit toeftablifh
an independent consulship for the four eastern Rates,
the honorable Mons. De Letombe, consul general of
the fame, arrived in this town from Philadelphia on
Friday last, with his. vice consul, to enter upon that
important office. _
Extract of a letter by captain. Newnham, from a
capital house in Amßerdam.
" Our sentiments perfectly coincide with yours,, re
fpe&ing the present state of public affairs ; and as we
have the fame hoper, from the plan of the armed neu
trality, which you have formed, we have no doubt of
feeing them soon- realized, and America hailed as inde
pendent through all the globe. rn ,
The impolitic, unjust and cruel conduct of England,
have one more to destroy its power, than all' its ene
mies. Every commercial power in Europe, whole Rag
has been wantonly and repeatedly infused, all unite in
you it is perfectly amicable to this; and a great train
of commercial politics is laid : the Dutch will soon re
ceive a card from the emperor requeuing them to de
flroy all their forts upon the Scheid, which they will
politely comply with, and the grass will no longer
grow in the Greets of Antwerp. My intelligence is
good, I am fare ; and I think the issue will be, that
peace will come gliding down the Scheid early in 1782."
JAMAIC A, May 26.
Monday afternoon last a Dutch privateer of sixteen
guns, chafed ashore, in Cow-bay, an American brig^
antine, prize to his majesty's ship Southampton.
KINGSTON, (in Jamaica) August 4.
On Wednesday forenoon a severe florm of wind,
accompanied with heavy and ioceffant rain, came on
here, and continued all thit night, and a great part of
the following day : The wind during that time veering
from N. E. to S. E. It blew with such violence du
ring the night, that numbers of the (hipping and small
craft in this harbour, and that of Port Royal, were
driven ashore, and some of them irrecoverably loft.
From the bulks at the east end of the town, to Faffage
Fort, not lets than 90 vessels of different sizes are on
shore, many of which have (u stained very considerable
damage, but we have not been able to collect their
names, much less to afeertain the hurt received by each.
Of the fleet at Port Royal above 30 are on shore from
Paffige fort to the 12 Apostles, among them are the
Green-Bland, Watt; Carnatic, Gibbon ; Mary, Friz
well; John, Watson; Thetis, Hardy; Jamaica, late
Grim (by; Mentor, Whitefides ; Kiivtton, hurft ;
Orange Bay, Ross ; London, Peck; Henry, Logan ;
Montague, Ca fey; Arundel, Mann; George and
John, Dears; Chambers, Langley ; Hope, Simes Dis
patch, Towers; Friendihip, Ronaldfon; Nancy,
Brown; Fame, Eaton; True-Briton, Stewart ; Cla
rendon, Jordan ; Lark, Backhoufe; and Ransom,
Bagnold. Some of them 'tis feared will never be got
off, and others will not without much trouble and da
mage.
The gate was severely felt at Savannah la Mar,
where tiiree houses were destroyed, and several much
damaged. The canes, corn, and plaintains in Weft
moreland are mofily destroyed.
Kingston, August 11. The weather on Wednesday
night, with wind and rain, by degrees grew so
violent as to alarm the whole of the inhabitants of this
place; they were no less concerned for their fafety
than for the situation of the whole country, least it
Should fall in some measure under a similar calamity to
that it had experienced after the third of October last:
by every account which has yet arrived from the
country, the damage done, though very great, is ne
vertheless not so much as was at firft expected; and
we hope what further accounts we may receive will Rill
make it less considerable.—Three vessels have been
drove ashore by the violence of the wind, in the har
bour of Martha Brae; the ship Roebuck, Williams,
belonging to New York, the Roop Beaver, and a schoo
ner belonging to Messrs. Sinclair and Ward, of King
ston; the former is totally loft, the latter will be got
off.
It appears that the storm did not reach a great way
to windward, as nothing of it was felt by the fleet.
We have the pleasure to inform the public, that his
majesty's ship Fox was spoke with off the north-east
end of Cuba, on Friday last; and that the Pomona
had been cruizing in company with her, and was then
watering in a bay at a small dißance.
The right honourable lord Charles Greville Monta
gue, with bis corps, confiding of about 550 effective
men, is arrived in the tran (ports from Sou th-Carolina,
last from the Windward Islands.
Yesterday arrived his majesty's ship Diamond, C.
Parker, enquire, from a cruise; the Hero letter of
marque, captain Beaver, with the loss of her masts
and (our of her crew in the late gale; also an Ameri
can brig, prize to the Sprightly letter of marque.
crufking those haughty islanders which ere long, we
doubt not, to fee fufficiently humbled, and compelled
to give up claims, they would have been wife to have
defined from sooner."
Much has been laid by the Britons and their parti
zans, against the national character of the French.
They cannot, however, persuade us not to credit our
senses. We have found the character of this nation di
reftly the opposite of ^nat our enemies have altered to
represent it. We have found in France not only a faith
ful, but a most generous ally. In tl eaids they have sent
us in fpecje, in warlike Rore r , and in land and sea for
ces, they have gone far beyond what their engagements
with us encouraged us to expert, and have astonished
the world. It is a sass to be depended on, that his
most chriftian majesty has 10,000 land forces, and
35,000 men in the fleet, that are at this moment em
ployed for the fuccour of United States. The manner
in which this decisive superiority of force was sent us,
has been so sure, and so unexpeaed by the enemy, ae
to demonflrate the measures of the court of France,
to be as politic as they are just and generous.
— ^ct — „.
F I SH- K I L L, ORober 4.
By recent accounts from the northward, we learn,
a detachment of fir John Johnston's corps (about 250)
arrived at St. John's, from Montreal, about the last
of August, where it is probable they were joined by
some other corps, Indians, &c. Captain Forbes, of
the 34th regiment, who commands at St. John's, late
ly sent a party towards Saratoga, to take a prisoner
or two, fox the purpose of obtaining intelligence; but
notwithßanfting his very particular instructions, a co
py of which is transmitted, on the morning of the 25th,
ult. a captain Dunnam of the militia, and two men
only, took five of the party, and conducted them fafe
to Saratoga, in a manner which does this litle part,
much honour. Scouts are out in search of the remainder-
The following is a copy of the inftruaions-
SI R,
“ You will proceed with your party to Saratoga,
and bring me from thence one or more intelligent pri
soners; You must be necessarily aware of the address,
adivity and courage, required to conduct an enter
prize of this nature, with honour to yourfelf and ad
vantage ,to your cause. You w : ll carry in your mind
that the weaker your force, the Wronger muR be the
(hew arid vigorous exertions of your courage: This
will deceive youren-my, who will naturally multipl,
numbets when they fee a party attack with confidence.
I have dwelt upon this point, as 1 have for good rea
sons, given you but a small party.
“ In case of being observed, before you have ex
ecuted your buGueL, and by the disposition of the e
nemy precluded from a possibility of a retreat, you
may ihew them these orders, to evince that you are
come openly and avowedly in arms, to do the duty
you are commanded on; and not like lurking (pies,
or secret assassins, as such are but too often, for the
honour of war, sent from the enemy into this province
" Avoid even the shadow of cruelty, and every
kind of mifehief unauthorifed by the laws of war.
The difireffing of individuals is but partial evil, and,
avails nothing. No deftruttion must be levied that
will not affe& the collective body of the enemy."
D. F ORBE S, capt. 34th regiment.
Commandant St Johns.
To Mr. Loveless-
Extract front GENE R A L QRDE R S.
Head Quarters, Continental Village, October 5.
ccThe general congratulates the army on the 'uccefe
of the American arms in the reduction of fort Slongo,
on Long Island, the' morning of the 3d inst. This en
terprize was planned by major Tallmadge, and execut
ed by major Trefcott, with an address and gallantry
which does them great honour... _
" The general presents his thanks to major Tall
madge, major Trefcort, and the other brave officers
and men, both Soldiers and boatmen, who fignahzed
themselves on this occasion. It adds much to the plea
sure of this success, that it was obtained without the
loss of a man killed on our fide ; and only one wounded.
Of the enemy, two captains, one lieutenant and eigh
teen rank an'd file were made prison r s, beiides several
killed and wounded. Two iron double fortified four
pounders were destroyed : The colours of the fort, one
NEW- LONDO N, Dauber 5.
Friday evening last a flag returned here from New-
York, but brought no prisoners.—There is an embar
go upon all (hipping there, and a hot press, since the re
turn of admiral Hood's squadron.
Monday night, the ship Hunter, captain Sage, re
turned from a cruize.
Tuesday arrived captain Lyon, in a sloop belonging
to New-haven, in 17 days from St. Croix : He informs
that there are 60 Dutch privateers out of Curracoa,
cruizing against the British (hipping.
Yeßerday morning the brig Marquis la Fayette, cap
tain Hinman, returned from a cruize. A few days ago,
being chafed by a frigate, he was obliged to throw over
eight guns. -
N O R W I C H, ORober 4.
Tuesday last the honourable superior court finished
their sessions in this town ; during which Elisha Witter,
of Preston, was tried for the murder of Mrs. Mary
Spalding, when the jury brought in the verdiQ not
guilty ; it appearing to them, by the witnesses, that he
was in a state f infinity. He now Rands committed
til! March term, to take h°is trial for e murder of Mrs.
Spalding's child, and his own infant.
HARTFORD, October 9.
Admiral Digby arrived at New-York the 25th uTt
with three ships of the line, one frigate, and no more.
His royal highpefs prince William Henry, third son of
his Britannic majesty, came paßenger in the fleet.
The Britilh naval force now at New-York, fit for
service, is 20 fail of the line. Count de Graffe has 37^
fail of the line ;—a great superiority, notwithßanding;
the arrival of admiral Digby, on which the enomy
built their principal hope.