The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-01-07 00:00:00, page 1

THURSD A Y,
W&^^@
GEN°ERAL
To the Pri>.fr of the Pennsyvania Packet.
SI R,
h N anonymous writer in your paper of th^ 25th of
A Augufi last undertakes to prove that Billingfport is
a more eligible situation than Mud-Island for a fort, the
objed of which ihould be, with the aid of the chevaux de
frize to prevent the enemy's vessels from penetrating to
Philadelphia. As the reasons on which the gentleman
founds his opinion do not a,,ear conclhfive. and as I think
very dangerous that the public should adopt falfe ideas on
this fab e% I fliall examine what he has advanced, with
out however pretending in this place to discuss the matter
as deeply ,as its importance merits,
“ A strong fortification (fa,s the author) must be ereft
“ed somewhere. If it is to be erected on Mud-Island,
“ experience fliews that it is absolutely neceifary Red
“ Bankfhould be strongly fortified, as a cover to the
" works on the inland, otherwise gaining possession of that
“ ground will command your fortification."
Experience, I grant, has proved that Mud-Island, in
the state in which it was, might be annoyed from Red-
Bank—bnt <he reason why Mud-Island fort was exposed
to annoyance rrom Red-Bank, was, because the works
were badly difpaied and badly conftrufted. For true ex
perience, (I mean that only which is col eded from the
knowledge of a great number of falls) indeed theory too
teach men of the profeffion, that nothing is more con
temptible than a commanding ground at ten or twelve
hundred yards distance, and that there are infallible means
of guarding against its effects.
^ Fort Mh'fin was greatly annoyed from Province If
" land, this Fuggefts the necessity of erecting another
" work on the weft fide of the Delaware."
This is the fame case. Province-Island is at more than
coo yards distance from Mud Island. The fort on Mud
Island. may be easily, and without much expence, con-
Bruited in such a manner as to dread no annoyance from
Province-Island, that is, no such annoyance as would has
ten its surrender. T^ e author of this piece does not con
fi ler that he urges as an argument against Mud-Island an
admirable property which it has, viz. that it cannot be
battered but from two places on the land. He remarked
only these places because there were no others ; he does
not point out any at Billingfport, because the ground that
environs Billingfport, except the river's edge, affords in
like manner, spots proper for the establishment of the e
nemy, so that i f the author founds his opinion of the unfit
ne s of Mud-Island, on the necessity of conftruding two
othet forts, one at Red-Bank, the other on Province-IG
land, the two places at which batteries may be raised a
gainst it—and we were inclined to close with him in this
for argument's fake —still we might reply that Billinfpert
is much more unfit, because upon these principles it would
require a number of ten or thirty forts on the circumjacent
ground, which is much more favorable to the enemy's
batteries. The writer ought to have perceived that when
he requires a fert at Red Bask and ano her at Province-
Island, it is for the purpose of remedying in Mud-Island
some supposed defers, which Billingfport really abounds
with at a much higher degree, without a poffib lity of ob
viating them. It is, in sass, to mike of'Mud-Ifland a fort
infinitely superior to Billinfport, and such a one as ought
no longer to be compared ts it.
“ There will be then three fortifications.'"
I have proved there will be no occasion for three fortifi
cations; TlWfinglh fort at Mud-Island will answer the
end propefed better than all that can be done at Billingf
port, for I ask what kind of fort would you have at Bil
lingfport ? If it be made of earth, it will be that kixd of
work which does not require a siege, but may be carried
sword in hand or by storm ; Such will be our dependence
then for the defence of the river and Philadelphia. Or if
we suppose that the enemy, to save the lives of their men,
should consent to spend a little more time, they will eredt
batteries to break the palifadoes, crumble the parapets,
and by these means faci itate their assault. This is the
business of five or fixdays. Will you have a fort of ma
sonry, with out-works, covered ways, &c. this will in
volve considerable expences, require much time and la
bour, and after all, as the ground a out Billingfport is
excellent 'or opening trenches and carrying on approach
es, the defence of your fort will still be very limited; it
would be very easy to calculate within five or fix days,
how many days of opened trenches it would be able to
stand, according to the calculation usually made in such
cases. But with fefpea to Mud-Island no calculation can
be made, trenches and regular approaches are out of the
quefbon. Noone can fix the term of the defence, which
a fort judiciously planned and executed at that place may
make, for my own part Ido not fee what could limit its
resistance, in a word I regard it as impregnable, for how
is a fort to be taken that is surrounded by water, and can
not be approached near enough by fllips to fuffer a breach ?
which besides may be so conftruaed, as that supposing the
flips able to approach the body of the place would be se
cure from a breach, or granting that they effected a breach
in some places, their troops would encounter infurmownta
ble obfiacles to arrive there. The enemy may purpose
perhaps to carry their p®int by overpowering the fort with
[Price Fifteen Pence single, One Shilling by the quantity. Published every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.]
bombs—but if fuMcient bomb-proofs are conftruHed with
in to cover the garrison and ammunition of every kind,
what will the enemy's bombs avail them ? It can neither be
the want of provisions, ammunition nor men that will
oblige the fort to surrender; it may be constantly Appli
ed, a capital advantage which Billingfport does riot enjoy
in the fame degree. Whafthen can force the garrison to
capitulate ? For my own part I do not forefee.
" This island being nearly level with high water,
" when a ihip is once along fide the fort, the may from
" her tops with small arms and howitzers command the
" platform and beat the men from their stations."
This inconvenience may be avoided by the disposition
of the fort, and the manner of directing of its fire, by the
conftrudion of the batteries, and the combination of the
distances of the cheveaux de frize from the fort, the ve
ry fame attention would be equally necessary at Billingf
port. a flop's top being always much higher than the
land batteries ought to be, in order to produce a good
effect against ships.
" Another consideration of great importance to the
" garrison is that the island is unhealthy."
7 his inconvenience cannnet be put in the scale against
other important considerations that we have seen. Besides
it may be almost rendered null by relieving the garrison,
as frequently as is judged necessary. I shall have very little
to add to this.
Although (it may be asked) you should not judge it
necessary to occupy Red Bank or Province-Island for the
security of Mud Island, woald there not be some advantage
in doing it ? A, to Red Bank it appears to me perfectly
wfelefs ; men, time and labour may be much better be
stowed. With refpea: to Province-Island, it ought doubt
• less to be occupied, but with what view I am going to
explain.
Itwas, in my opinion, a very imprudent step in the
English to come and shut themselves up in Philadelphia
before they were matter of the river, without having any
other communication with their fleet than by the way of
Derby, and lam well persuaded, that the anxieties which
they offered, previous to their getting possession of the
fort, will be a goed lesson to them for the future (if there
be any occasion) and hinder them from committing the
fame fault. But if besides that, the Americans should
ereft on Province-Island the necessary works for securing
the possession of it, as well as a communication with the
Derby road, so as that they might, whenever they should
choole, advance a body of troops on that road. Inthat
case I do not conceive the enemy will ever venture to go
into Philadelphia without having firft possessed themselves
of Province-Island. But as the works there would be sur
rounded by vast marshes, which cannot be travelled ei
ther on foot or in boats, they would be absolutely inac
cessible. Therefore there is no probability that the enemy
would fuc eed in their attempt to carry them. Therefore
they could n®t go into Philadelphia.
Such is the happy situation of Philadelphia, that by a
judicious disposition even of flight works in its vicinity,
this extensive and beautiful city will be in no future dan
ger of the enemy establishing themselves there.
^^^^^^^^±c&^^d^^x^
TO BE SOLD BY
JOH N HA R LAN D,
At the his store, the corner of Walnut and Second
'ftreets, Philadelphia,
AFE W tierces and barrels of best Jamaica Sugars;
Bohea Tea by the pound or hundred weight ; best
Hylon Tea by ditto; Madeira Wine of the firft quality
by the quarter-cask or gallon; old Jamaica Spirits,
Rum, Whilkey, Mob ffes, Coffee, Pepper, Allum,
Chocolate, Ra fins and Spices.
Ke^fog ton, Nov. 24, 1775.
TWENTY DOLLARS REWARD.
C TRAYED or STOLE N from the subscriber, a
° dark brown MARE, about fourteen and a half
hands high, ten years old, a white face and wall eyes,
four white feet, no fkoes on, along switch tail, trots
and canters well. Whoever takes up said Mare and
gives information thereof, shall have the above Reward
and reasonable charges.
Came to the place of Do&or Farmer, on the sth of
December, a brown MAR E, about fourteen hands
high and about eight years old, with a blaze and snip, a
bob tail, three white feet, and shod all round. The
owner is desired to come, prove property, pay charges
and take her away.
WILLIAM BOWER;
Philadelphia, January 5,
FOR S AL E,,
A few PIPES of excellent
MADEIRA W I N E,
B Y
ALEXANDER FOSTE R.
THE
,^^re^'^^^^CT^WWW
l^^^b
JANUARY 7, ift
The
advertiser
'Maryland, December ir, 1773.
TOBE SOL D,
, F ° r .£°°d Bds of Exchange,
T SEAT > containing upwards of
' x , un .d re d acres of excellent land, capable of d o
thiTT" J" 1 "^ '?' ° f " ery thin 6 tbat can ripen in
a u b ° u ^ wi ' h and ^ 0 :
ground, of which between twenty and thirty acres are
cleared and well let with graft. No fituaticn can
fi'4 ferine T^ y$ '""' ffatered > 01 Applied 'with
finer fpnngs. It i s very convenient to a good sea-port,
being only diffant fix miles and a barf from George- Town
on Potowmack, and to faeral nulL fcft at so
b f°^ ht nearec if the P^rchafer chufes tj
ere& works of that fort on his own land. Ir will be con-
L e u d S" "l°' a ' incumbr ances whatever; and being
+H 'i he ? r .^' r ' ai Patentee, the title is as indispu
table as the Lind is valuable in all refresh. With the
a,ll be fold, consisting of a brick
dweJmg-houfe foi ty-fix feet by thirty eight, two ftorte;
eac. ithirteen feet pitch, built ten years ago with the heft
^ in ^ beR manrrc ' and is complexly fin
ifh-d from the cellars to the garret, It has eight fire
places, is remarkably cool in summer and warm in win
ter, and to fay no more, it is fit for the accommodati
on of a family of the firft fortune. On one end is a
brick store room and an office of twentymo fret • on
the other a pantry and kitchen of the fame dimensions,
all communicating with the dwelling boufe, to which
e "an handsome gerden and court-yard : There is
also a brick coach house, and the usual plantation build
b-ari '™?' corn-hou e, granary. & c &c.
7 ogether with the house the furniture will be fold : It is
of the beftq s auty from London, and plenty of it,
a ^^ ^ c " : confidera bl e quantity of fifhionable
plate. There is hkewile for sale, so, Continental cur-
a e L °% °? chariot > with patent wheels, patent
bhn^s, &c. Itis as good as new, having been but little
u ed and well kept-No better carriage can be made :
A f may , , ,^ er with or without a pair of horfa.—
After tl) e land, improvements and furniture are fid
f? r ^^ of exchange, the Negroes Q stock of every
kind will be diipoled of for Continental currency or
Loan Once Certificates. The subscriber thinks he may
with confidence ariure any Gentleman inclinable to pur
chase this very valuable estate, that on viewing the pre
miles he will find them adequate to the description
-_—_'^ EXAN ^ WIL LIAMSON.
CA M E to the plantation of the subscriber,
in Plymouth Townfh?'p, Philadelphia Counts, an
iron grey MARE, three years old last spring, a na
tural trotter, with a star in her forehead. The owner
is desired to come, prove his property, pay charges and
take her away.
°a. 27. WILLIAM LAWRENCE.
f^ AME to the fubfcriber':, on William
M ftejs, Efqnire's place, near the Three mile Run,
betw xt Prankford and Germantown roads, a brown
MARE, shod all round, and has some white spots on
her back : The said Mare has been cried about the ci'y
three times. The owner is desired to come, prove his
property, pay charges and take her away, otherwise ihe
will be fold to pay costs.
Dec. 3 r. GEORGE KARLINGEN.
C^ A M E to the place of Peter Deal, on
, the Germantown Road, in the Northern Liberties,
near the Five-mile Stone, an old bay HORSE, about
fifteen hands high, branded on the off fide, on the
shoulder and on the buttock with a ring and croffe#
therein, and has a saddle mark on his back. The owner
is desired to come, prove his property, pay charges and
t'ke him away.
PU RSUANTtothe last Will and Testa
ment of Theophilus Thomas, late of Vincent
Township, Chester County, deeeafed, will be fold by
Public Vendue, on Tuesday the twelfth day of January
next, at Ten o'clock in the forenoon, a valuable Plan
tation, being part of Callowhill Manor, in the township
aforefaid, containing one hundred and eight acres,
bounded by lands of William Evans, E(q; James Evans,
Jacob Ginther, &c. whereon is a good dwelling-house
built part of stone and part of sawed logs, a mrk-boufe
on a spring of g®od water, a large and convenient barn
and stables, two fruitful orchards, ten acres of watered
meadow, and more may be made and watered by a fine
stream running by the House through the land, which
is well timbered and of a good quality, the buildings and
fences in good repair, on a public road leading from
French Creek Iron Works to the city of Philadelphia,
within one mile of the noted Yellow Springs, conveni
ent to mills, tradesmen, and to places of worship of al
tnoft every denomination. Attendance will be given on
said day, and the terms of sale made known, by
Deceit JOHN THOMAS, Executor.