The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-09-29 00:00:00, page 3

nor even in fifty, if the present fyfiem continues. The
noble lord dare not make peace ; he has assured this
house, that he would bring the Americans to their
knees, arid he has not yet had candour enough to ton
fefs that he was midaken.
Mr. Fox drew a' picture ofthe ,different and contra
diftory situations in which niniPry are. When the
war with America broke out, what was their argu ment?
Shall we give up the trade with America? No, they
could not think of that, the rade i too precious to
loose ; but when it was loft, the miniflers changed their
tone, and then, it was only for taxation they fought.
Very soon however both trade andcommerce wereaban
cloned, a d then, the whole dispute turned on the in
dependence of America, which they told us we'could
not give up on any pretext known ; after all this, we
must yet grant them independence. Mr. Foxfighed
to rhittk th-t the war muff be continued, that the poor
must be fruttrated in the means of supporting them
feives by their industry, and the rich deprived of the
eife and pleasures of life. In short, he look'd upon e
very tax impfedjn consequence of the war, as a rob,
bery made on the public; He finifh'd his long and
warm speech by observing that the war with America
would never finifh whilst the prefect fyfiem was conti
nued. But'the moment in which that fyfiem changed,
good to both countries would result from that change.
In a word, he declared that this war was so unjust in
its principles and absurd in the pursuit, that it must be
ruinous in its consequences, and consequently he would
vote that the queflion might be taken again into confi
detation. Mr. Hartley's motion was rejected ; the
12th of this month, Mr. Fox, who had announced one
pretty similar, made another speech, of which we fhail
give the (übflance ; it may be look'd upon as a com
mentary on lord Cornwallis's letters, and a continua
tion of the firft of this war. When Mr Hartley's mo
tion was retried, fays he, by a plurality of votes, the
Objection which decided its fate, refled on the (appo
rtion, that on the moment in which that great quefti
en was agitated : it was probably decided in America,
by a compleat victory just gained over the'rebels , lord
George Germaine declared positively, that the victory
was signal, de ifive, and that he eYpeßed the particu
lars ; it was therefore determined ' that the war ffiould
be continued, to which that vi&ory must put a speedy
period.' These expected particulars are arrived, they
are deported in an authentic paper ; even in the Court
Gazette : Let us take a view of them, if we have the
tourage, if we can support the frightful accumula
ted' difappointmept, the fruitlefs maffacrees, impotent
valour, per Severance at the last gasp, I dare not fay
dire disgrace and shame, I dare not fay that this pre
tended Guilford vidoies carry in its forrowfdl conse
quences every mark of the most decisive defeat ; I dare
fay that the brave Cornwallis fled. He would die with
grief was he ever to learn that this house resounded with
that word consecrated to disgrace: No, that brave
officer did not flee; he conquered; he planted the roy
al Handed on the field of battle. But ! but if he had
been vanquished, what worse could poftibly have hap
pened him.than what has? Hi did not run, but
found himfelf under the dreadful and mortifying ne
deffity of retiring with force precipitation ; hiftrdy does
hot furnifh any example that I know of, where a con
queror, in the moment of victory, has been obliged to
turn his back to the enemy ; to give up all advantages
which he owes to his bravery and good condud. Lord
Cornwallis was reserved for the misfortune of furnish
ing that example to' posterity ; he did not fly, but in
fine, if he had been vanquished what would he have
done? He would have quit the field of battle, and ap
g-oached the sea Shore precifi ately, where he might
expeß to find an asylum and some fuccours; that is pre
cisely what he has done : his victorious army abandoned
the field of battle; he renounced every ulterior object
of his expedition, and retired in haste to the sea fide,
to put bin ft If under the protection of our fleet !
[For the remainder,' fee the last page.]
Philadelphia, Sept. 19.
Extract of a letter from count de Graffe to the hon.
the chevalier de la Luzerne, min ; fter plenipotentiary
of France. Cape Henry, Sept. 13, 1781.
" Nothing gave rhe greater pleasure than the ap
proach of the armies under general Waffiington and
count de } ochambeau. Inor«ef to haflen their ar
rival I had fekCted out seven vessels that drew the least
water to transport them from the Mouth of Elk down
Chefeapake Bay. But the moment they' were rea
dy to fail to execute this fer vice, I was myfelf obliged
tp make prep, rations for repelling the enemy'- fleet,
v^h appeared bff the entrance of the Bay. T
have fought them, and their van has been very roughly
handed. I returned to the' ba/ on the ivth. In the
meantime Count de Barras Lad arrived, and sens up
the traufports be had with him to bring down the
tr,oops, which induce! me not to fend up the seven vef
ie]s above-mentioned; and I had only to add to those
sent by count de Barras as many frigates as I could.
Ely putting ro sea facilitated the entrance of M
de Batras, and our junction has added much to
cu'r flreng.th,=l fell in with two of the enemy's fri
g^^ the Iris and the Richmond, of 3% guns each.
They had been sent by the English admiral to cut away
th- buoys of our anchors—They have paid dear for
them."
rdmiral Digby is most assuredly arrived off the
Hook, withone Ship of 90 guns, and two of 74. The
reports (from trim) fay le left England with fix ships
Clips of the line, fix fr nates ; nd 100 tranfpor's for A
merice & but feme ' advices'. th A admiral received at sea
made it n."C<fLry or him to come on ^th rl r<t ships,
leaving the trarfperts uhder cover of three ships of the
line and fix; frigates.
Advices are received from New-York,- which fay, that
the enemy have dismantled three forts on the Erit river,
and' sent the heavy cannon on board their flipping.
Ne^r four thousand troops (with a large number of
waggon , flat bottomed boats, &c. &c.) are encamped
on Staten-Ifand: But it is difficult for Us to ascertain
what tueir designs are.-
The following account of the engagement between the
French and British fleets, is extracted from Riving
-ton's Gazette of September 22
On thegth infant the British fleet came in fight of
the French, who were lying at anchor, extending from
cape Henry to the centre of the middle ground. The fle^t
of France upon fight of the British, immediately weigh
ed end flood out to sea, and flowed 24 ships in their line
of battle, the British formed 19 in theirs. The aCtion
began one quarter after 4 P. M. and in a few minutes
extended from the van to the second ship astern of the
centre, and continued so till the French ships put before
the wind, to prevent being cut up. All filing ceased on
both sides soon after sunset. About ten at night it was
found, that.the British flips in the van were so terribly,
damaged, especially in their masts and rigging, that they
could not keep extended with the enemy, others could
hardly be kept from finking by theaid of all their pumps.
The fleets remained near each other for five successive
days, at times very close. The French seemed consider
ably damage but the British were much more so; this
enabled the French to gain the wind of us, and the wind
changing in their favour prevented our recovering it.
On the idth, the Terrible, of (64 guns) could no logg
er refi ft her leaks, and was therefore set on fire; next day
we saw nothing of the enemy. . On the 14th we regained
cape Henry, but found the French so advantageously
Situated to receive us, that we thought it best to return
to N-W-York. The approaching equinox also rendered
this manoeuvre very prudent..-Ive had 91 killed and 246
wounded.
The English are never Sincere, even when they are
forced to disagreeable confeffons. Rivington, in his
lift of the fleet of admiral Graves, mentions the Terri
ble as a Ship of 74- but the artillery of our allies having
deftroyed' that ship, the fame Terrible is, by the very
fame Mr. Rivington, reduced to 64.-
STATE of PENNSYLVANIA.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
Thursday, September 27, 1781.
Ordered, That the bill to veil the title of a meffu
age and lot of ground, in the town of Liiburn, in
John Rankiri; ety be printed for ' public confide; ion.
SAMUEL STERETT, Clerk.
Anaß to veff the title of a meffuage and lot of ground,
in the town of Lilburn, in John Rankin, efq
V<7HERBAS, John Rankin, efq; of York county,
" hath presented a petition to this house, Setting
forth, that a houfeand lot in the town of Liffiurn, in
the county of Cumberland, was heretofore taken in ex
ecution as the estate of a certain Richard Carson, and
iu due form of law flruck off and fold to James Ran
king and the consideration money by him paid to th^
Sheriff: That the said Richard Carson held the poffef
fibn of th, fiid meffuaye and lot of ground with the
consent of the said James Ratikin, and afterwards paid
and'fatisfied him for the money by him advanced to
the fheriff: That the petitioner, with the knowledge
and at the request of the said James Rankin, contract
ed verbally with the said Richard Carson for the pre
mises, and afterwards paid him the full price agreed up
on, and obtained possession of-the said premises. That
soon after the petitioner, together with the said James
Rankin, went to Carlifle, arid employed a conveyancer
to procure a fheriff's deed for the premises, to the
said John Rankin : That afterwards the said James
Rankin joined the enemy at Philadelphia, and was
thereupon attainted of high treason ; previous to which
the conveyancer aforefaid, had procured a fheriff's'
deed for the premises in the name of James Rankin,
duly acknowledged in court and recorded; and there
upon prayed the house would permit hint to bring
in a bill to vest the title of the premises in the petition
er'.
- Be it therefore enabled, and' it is hereby eriaded, by
the representatives of the freemen of the common
wealth of Pennsylvania, in general assembly met, and
by the authority of the fanle, That the lot of ground
aforefaid, with the buildings and appurtenances, situ
ate, lying and being in the town of Lilburn, in the
county of Cumberland, con aining in front, on a street
in the genera! plan of the said town, called Main street,
one hundred and thirteen feet; and in depth on the
westward fide, three hundred and seventy five feet, to
Yellow Breeches Creek; and in depth on t,he ^aftward
fi?e, two hriri'dred and forty feet, be, and the fame is
hereby veiled in the said John Rankin, his heirs arid
assigns, to be held by him, the said John Rankin, his
heirs and assigns for ever, sub est to the fame rents and
Conditions, that the said Richard Carson formerly
held the fame; any law, custom or usage to the contra
ry thereof, in any wife netwithflanding.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
Tj-urfday, Septemi er 27, 1781.
Ordered, that the bill for dissolving thf marriage of
Jacob Billmeyer, with his wife Mary,, late Mary Ei
chellberger, be printed for public consideration.
SAMUEL STERETT. Clerk.
An a& to dissolve the marriage of Jacob Billmeyer, with
his wife Mary Billmeyer, late Mary Eichellber e r .
IX™ HEREAS Jacob Billmeyer, of the town of York,
in the slate of Pennsylvania, conveyancer, hath
presented a petition to this house, setting forth, that his
wife Mary/aboufeig'ht years since, eloped from his bed
and board, without any reasonable cause, arid ever
since continued to ab ent from his bed and board - and
that in the morith of February, in the year of our Lord
one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight, she,
the said Mary, became acquainted with a certain'wil'
Ham Cole, with whom she intermarried and cohabited -
and afterwards eloped cut of this, slate, and hath born
a child or children to the said William Cole: Ard pray
ing leave to bring in a bill for the dissolution of said
marriage, after due notice given.
And whereas it appears to this house, that the fa^s
alledged in the said petition are true: And whereas this
house did, by their resolve of the tenth day of March,
in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and
eighty one, give permission to the said Jacob Billmeyer
to bring in a bill to divorce him from his said wife Mary,
agreeable to the prayer of his said petitions he, the said
On MONDJr Next,
At TEN o'Clock in the Forenoon,
At the STORES on James and Drinker's Wharf,
Will be Sold, by Public Auction,
JVariety of Hard JNare,
Viz Padlocks, Files, Frying - Pans, Gridirons, CeffecMilb,
L .ks of all kinds, Tweiv ,M,ll law?, Nails, and a large
Q n ty Fit: Bring Pm of th^ CARGO of the
P?OT SI?D bjab,
September 28; CLEMENT BIDDLE, Marlhal.
Will be Sold by Public Vendue,
At th^ Coffiu-Houft, on THURSDAY next, the 4th
Dy of oetob^r, at Twelve o'Clock, precisely,
A three Story Brick House,
KITCHEN and LOT of GROUND, situate iu Fifth
ftrett, near Walnut-street, next to Mr. John Connor's,
containing in front about 19 feet, and in depth 50 feet,
fubje& to a ground-rent of 45 (hillings, Pennsylvania
currency, per ann. and to no othef incumberance ; the
title warranted good. The purchaser may have poffeffi.
on immediately. Ths prelent tenant pays only 361.
per annum, but 501. a year, rent, may be obtained
JOHN BAYARD, Au&ioneer.
Notice is hereby given, to all
the Owners or Poff^ffors of the Schuylkill PO IN T
MEADOW, that, agreeable to an A& of Assembly
provided for the Support of the aforefaid Meadow, an
ELECTION will be held on the second Tuesday in
October next, at rd o'Clock in the Forenoon, at the
House of Mr. WILLIAM CARSON, at the Harp
and Crown, in Third street, to Choose five Persons for
Managers, and one for Treasurer for laid Company.
By Order of the Managers,
Sept. 2,. WILLIAM RUSH, Treafurcr.
The Subferiber, lately appointed
A NOTARY and TABELLION PUBLIC, for the
State of P,nnf v |vania„ has removed his Office to the
south fide 0 Market-ftrett, the third door above Laeti
tia Court. The Duties of this Office wifi not interfere
with his Practice of the Law. W. BARTON
Wanted immediately, A youno-
WOMAN to attend a Child, and who can be well
recommended. Enquire' of the Printer.
10 BE SOLD,
ALike'y, Healthy, NEGRO GIRL, about fevenJ
teen years es age : she is 0d for want of employ.
Enquire of the Printer.
To be Sold, A Quantity of
E%ee/Jext Red Herrings,
Enquire at the north-well corner house of Arch and
Frfih-ftreets : Likewise fume fine Pickled Mackarrel.
Ten Dollars Reward.
n AN-AWAY from the fubferiber, living in Balti
, more town on the night of the rith i n ft an t,
September, A Negroe MAN, named WILLIAM a '
flout ^ell-made Fellow, about 35 years of age, , s ect
8°; CTehes high, a fubtie, running Fellow : He car
t^d off a good suit of cloaths, but as he will probably
change t^em tor others, it is needless to describe them
Hets ^„ K fr fond of plfe o rs the vio! ; n . He
wurmfed by Colonel Scuth, at New-York, and after
wrrd. lived wuh the Reverend Mr. Woodrul and it is
expeaed he vrii; push for the former pfo. A DD Iv to
^PRINGLE, Philadelphia, or GEORGE HU^
I kK, a^4iiimore e
1 ob Billmeyer, giving previous notice of his defigm
and this permission, at least two months in the public
news p per printed in the city of Philadelphia, entitl
ed " The Pennsylvania Gazette, and Weekly Adver =
tifer :" fond whereas it hath been Sufficiently proved to
this house, that the said notice hath been given: There
fore,
Be it enabled, and it is hereby enabled, by the repre
sentatives of the freemen of the commonwealth of Penn
sylvania, in general assembly met, and by the autho
rity of the fame, that the marriage of the said Jacob
Billmeyer with the said Mary, be, and the fame is here
by declared to be, dillolved and annulled to all intents,
conftri, flions and purposes whatsoever ; And the said
Jacob Billmeyer and the said Mary, shall be/ and they
are hereby henceforth respectively declared to be Sepa
rated, set free, and totally difeharged from their matri
monial contrast, and from all duties and obligations to
each other as husband and wife, as fully, effectually
and absolutely, to all intents and purposes, as if they
never had been joined in matrimony, or by any other
contrast whatsoever; any law, usage or custom to the
contrary ther^ofin any wife notwithstanding.
*#* A Special Meeting of the Philosophical Society
on business of importance, is to be held this evening,
at Seven o'clock in the Carpenter's Hall. The mem
bers are requested to give an early attendance/ as the
business will not admit of delay.
%* A fiver mounted HANGER, marked T. R. was
lately mislaid by its owner : Whoever will bring it to
the printer of this paper, Shall receive many thanks.-