The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-09-10 00:00:00, page 2

''From the New-York Papers of the 2d, 3d
and 4th of September, 17'82.
PAR I S, June 14. '
THE lafl letters from Cadiz are of the 14th ult.
but inform us of nothing more than what we
learn by the courier Extraordinary ; the fleet
- fas received orders tor failing; 22 Spanish and 5
French were ready: The wind blew constantly from
the weft, and feerned not inclinable to fhift; we there
fore fup'pefe the fleet to have hoifled sale the 27th or
28th. At its approach, M. de la Motte Piquet will
depart from Breff witn ten fail and the convoy for An
tiles and North America.
We judge that of these 33 Spanish ships, only 27 will
come •with Don Cordova, it is (aid likewise, that the
king of Spain, being ftnfibly touched wth the reverse
of fortune which our fleet met with on an occasion
where it was only exposed for his service, has given to
the king of France 12 ships during the rest of the war.
The king of Spain consent also, that the squadron under
Don Solano ihali continue incorporated with our fleet
in the Well-Indies.
HAGU E, June i 6.
Lag Wednesday the dates of Holland and Wefl-Frief
land agreed to their pre-advite a particular peace is
rendered exceptionable, and that they cannot accede
to any other than a general pacification. In this re
foWion it is said, that England has hesitated too long
in declaring herfelf on the preliminary condition, which
was to serve as the basis of a private peace, and by
that means it had been resolved to aft in concert with
France, which destroys the possibility of a particular
peace. One of adjutants-general of his most serene
highness is gone in all haste to the Texel, whether he
carries, without doubt, some important orders to the
fleet of the Bates.
LONDO N.
June 20. It is not true as has been represented, that
Mr. Grenville had returned to Paris. He arrived from
France las Saturday eyeing, and having held re
peated conferences with lord Shelburne and Mr. Fox,
on the fubjeß of hjs negociation, set off for Stowe,
from whence he will soon return to London, to receive
further inftruHions and more enlarged powers, on the
future conduct of his important embassy. There is e
very reason to expert the most plepfing effects from the
further prosecution of this negociation. The ports of
Calais and Dover having been opened in couftquence
of what has passed between the two courts, a circum
fiance which is always considered as a presage of an ap
proaching pacification.
On Tuesday evening major Ross, aid de camp to
earl Cornwallis, arrived exprtfs from Paris, wita the
agreeable intelligence of having negotiated his lord
ship's exchange.
Yesterday lord Cornwallis, was at court for the firft
time since his being exchanged. S ; r Henry Clinton,
was also prefect, and they had each a long conference
with the king.
June 25. An expedition is certainly planned against
Tome part of the coast of France: it is to be conduced
under the protection of a flying squadron of five ships
of the line vid some frigates; the number of troops to
be employed on the occasion, from fix to eight thousand
mei\ ; to make up this number, 5000 of the regulars of
Ireland, are to be lent to England by the parliament
of that kingdom ; the remainder to be furniflied by Eng
land. It was for this purpose Mr. Gardiner moved for
leave to bring in a billinto the Irish commons, to ena
ble his majesty to order out of the kingdom 5000 of the
12000 regulars, which is the number that the king is
bound always to keep in Ireland for the defence of the
country, and which he cannot diminish without the
consent of parliament.
June 27. The Qtfeen Charlotte and Charles and Elea
nor ftorefhips, have fafe arrived at Gibraltar, with all
kinds of ordnance stores: these vessels carry about 100
men each, with a lieutenant, and are between 5 and 600
tons burthen.
Yesterday an express arrived from Dundee with an
account, that a vessel was put in there, the master of
which declared, that he saw a Dutch fleet of men of
war within 3 or 4 leagues of that port, fleering towards
the north ; that they fired a gun to bring him too, but
bein g out of the reach of the cannon, he crouded all the
fail he could and got clear.
June 29. Thursday lord Howe attempted to fail, but
he has not yet put to sea. He will certainly fail in two
cr three days at fartheft, with twenty-four fail of the
line from Pcrtfmouth, and will be jdined in the chan
nel by seven fail more.
Commodore Elliot has received orders from the board
of admiralty to hoist a broad pendant on board the
Romney, of 50 guns, and put to sea with lord Howe's
squadron, when it fails for the protection of the home
ward bound Jamaica fleet ; after which he is to pro
ceed with a small squadron of detached ships, to re
main on the Lisbon Ration.
Commodore Elliot is said to be fixed upon to com
mand the force intended to make a descent upon the
coast of France. The plan, which is kept a profound
secret, is said to have been formed by lord Keppel.
Including the Bombay Castle and the Carnatic 0674
guns each, lately commiffioged, there are now in ships
of the line in commission, 48 of which are in the Weft-
Indies.
Count de Graffe was a prisoner here in the last war,
about twenty-five years ago. He is one of the tallest
men in the French dominions, and of great bodily
Erength : being insulted at Dover, at the above period,
by a raw-boned boatman, he lifted him up from the
ground, and carried him about, 'till he fairly dashed
him down, panting for breath, and almost squeezed to
a mummy.
On Monday, a regiment of foot from Portfrnouth
barracks, was distributed among lord Howe's fleet at
Spithead, to serve as marines, the marines on board most
of the ships having been converted into sailors, to make
up their complements.
HALIFAX, August 23.
Tuesday arrived here in nine, weeks from Torbay,
a fleet of upwards of 50 fail of transports, ftorefhips,
victuallers, &c. under convoy of his majesty's ship
Kunown, of 50 guns, captain Henry. Brigadier ge
neral Brown, major Campbell, and a number of other
officers have arrived here with the troops, in their
way to New-York.
By letters from England, it appears, that both the
Dutch and Americans, are so linked in with French
politics, that neither can make a separate peace, this
has lead to a treaty for a general peace, in which the
emperor of Germany is joined as mediator with the em
press of Russia. Some conjecture a general peace will
take place, others that it will terminate in a more vig
orous prosecution of the war against France and Spain.
Ail parties appear to wish for a total cessation of hos
tilities with America, and if possible with the Dutch.
N EW- Y 0 R K, September 4.
Arrival of the British Fleet.
Yesterday arrived his majesty's frigate Champion,
of 24 guns, captain Thomas Wells, who'proved the
welcome harbinger of a part of the British fleet, from
the Wed-Indies, under the command of the right hon
ourable lord Hood. The whole fleet left Jamaica on the
26th of July, protecting the annual fleet of merchant
ships (with a firing convoy from that island) for Great-
Britain, until they had passed the Havanna. Off the
island of Cuba some rich Spanish vessels were taken by
the Britith, amounting, bis asserted, to a very large
sum. The whole British fleet, confifling of twenty-two
fail of the line, came altogether to this coast : but his
excellency Hugh Pigot, esquire, admiral of the blue,
and commander in chief, in the Formidable, with the
rest of this large Royal squadron, is at present on a
cruize, and not immediately expected in port.
Yesterday arrived in 7 days from Halifax, his majes
ty's ship Perseverance, captain Lutwidge, commander,
with the General Greene, a beautiful and hitherto ve
ry fortunate rebel privateer of 16 guns and 90 men;
also the brig Stork and brig Diana, laden with fifh
and lumber, both prizes to the Perseverance.
Extract of a letter from an officer under lord Hood's
command.
" The feet left Jamaica the 26th of july, in compa
“ ny with our trade for England, under convoy of the
“ Ramalies, admiral Graves, Canada, Ville de Paris,
c< Le Glorieux, Le Caton, Le Jaion, Ardent, Le Hec
“ tor, Centaur, all of the line, and the Pallas frigate,
“ confining of near 300 fail of merchantmen ; we then
“ proceeded off Havanna, and there cruized 15 days,
" that our trade might have time for a fair start. In
“ the Havanna were 12 fail of the line, with admiral
“ Solano. We took some Americans and three yalua
" ble Polacres, had a fine passage through the Gulph,
" and the fl^et are in the greatest spirits, wishing once
" more to meet their enemy."
Saturday the schooner Diligent, captain Sinclair, ar
rived here from Halifax in 6 days, by whom we learn,
that his majesty's ship Renown, and the Arethufa fri
gate, were arrived there from England, with a fleet of
50 fail under their convoy, having on board about 1200
British troops: they failed from England the 22d of
June, with several other vessels destined for South Ca
rolina; &c. and parted from them in the latitude of the
western islands.
The above is no part of the fleet that arrived at Hali
fax with thezooo Heffians,as mentioned under the York
date of the 28th.
The Thorny sloop of war, formerly taken and car
ried into Boffon, is retaken and carried into Halifax,
by his majefiy's frigate Arethufa.
A cartel ship with American prisoners, from Falmouth
for Boflon, touched at Halifax a day or two before
the Diligent failed : she left Falmouth the 3d of July ;
at which time the congress at Paris was dill fitting.
M. Grenville-had not returned to England, nor had
the packet failed trim thence for this port.
SALE M, August 22.
Yesterday morning a third cartel from England arri
ved at Marblehead. She failed from Falmouth on the
7th ult. and has brought in 116 Americans lately con
fined in Mill-prison.
A gentleman of this town, who came in the cartel,
foforms, that the combined fleet of France and Spain,
amounting to 46 fail of the line, were at sea, and Lad
captured twenty-two fail of a fleet of merchantmen
bound to Newfoundland ; four fail only, with the con
voy, escaped: that Britain had recalled her squadron
from the North sea, in order to increase her channel
fleet, which in the whole, would amount to no more
than 33 fail, while, with the expeded addition of 15 or
16 fail of Dutch men of war, ready for sea, the combin
ed naval armament of our friends and alites would con
sist of upwards of 60 fail of capital ships : that this great
force was intended to command the British channel (in
the chops of which the French and Spanish ships were ar
rived) not only with a view of distressing the enemy's
trade, but more particularly for the purpose of inter
cepting any fuccours which might be sent out for the re
lief of Gibralter, which important fortrefs, it was fap
pofed in England, was nearly reduced by the Spani
ards.
We find no intelligence in the latest paper received
from England, fufficiently authentic to induce a belief
that a peace is near at hand, though it appears, by fe.
veral paragraphs of the latest dates, inserted in this page;
that the negociation for accomplishing so desirable an
event, continued to be carried on at Paris. The idea of
a general peace was so little entertained in England,
that the gentleman above mentioned heard no conver
sation upon the fubjed, nor indeed did he learn that
any negociation was upon the carpet at the time of
his failing: but he observed that the people cherished
the delusive hope of a separate peace with America.
LONDO N.
June 22. Last night an express arrived at Mr. Fox's
office from Holland, which contains an official account
of the refufal of the Dutch to negociate a separate
peace, as above described.
Yesterday, andn ot before, the majority of the ca
binet declared in favour of a dissolution of the present
parliament. The resignation of lord John Cavendish
is expelled to be the consequence of this measure.
The following account is taken from this day's Hol
land mail.
Amflerdam, June 17. Several letters from Paris, of
the 7th of this month, make mention of a great ad
vantage gained in the Eaft.lndies by Mr. D'Orves,
commanding the ships of his most chriflian majesty, 0-
ver the fleet of admiral Hughes, commander of the
British fleet in that part of the world. Among these
letters there is one, the tenor ofwhich is so important,
that, tho' the news Hill merits confirmation, we can
not forbear publishing it.
On boam the Sphinx, in the bay of Trimcomale,
February 14.
" I take the opportunity of the failing of a Dutt*
armed ship, carrying to France the news of the retak
ing Trincomale by our squadron, and the entire defeat
of the English fleet under the command of admi
ral Hughes, made prisoner on board the Superb
man of war, by the king's ships l'Annibal and le
Sphinx. Our fleet was much superior to that of the
en&ny. Besides the Superb, we have taken the Eng
lish ships the Ganges and the Royal Admiral. M. de
Suffrien may claim the capture of the latter, which he
engaged five hours and an half. The rest of the Eng
lish squadron have been greatly disabled, and obliged
to take shelter under fort Anna. We have taken in Tri
comale 750 of the English troops and 1500 feapoys.
The ship I'Orient, captain Boyer, fell in with one of
the English squadron that was finking and saved the
remainder of the crew. The English have loft a great
number of men. We had 55 men killed and 24 wound
ed on board the Sphinx."
The truth of the above intelligence cannot as yet be
afeertained, and it is hoped that it will prove falfe,
especially as it is certain the French ministry have not
as yet received airy account of it.
June 25.
The fleet now in the Downs, under the command of
admiral Ross, is ordered round to Portfrnouth to join
the ships fitting out there, the whole of which, con
sisting of about 31 fail of the line, will fail in a few
days to seek for the combined fleets of France and
Spain, supposed at this time to be cruising in the mouth,
of the channel, some letters by yesterday's French
mail mentioning, that 29 Spanish and 5 or 7 French
ships of the line had arrived at Brest on the 14th instant,
at which port there were 10 fail more; but the greats
est part of the latter, on the combined force putting
to sea the latter end of the month, were to protest the
different convoys going from France to the East and
Weft-Indies and America.
NEW- Y OR K.
Sept. 5. It is laid fourteen vessels have been captur
ed by the fleet on their passage from the Weft-Indies,
most of which have arrived.
The Digby privateer, captain Lauyton belonging to
this port, on the 27th ult. of Cape Henlopen, distant a
bout 8 or 9 leagues, fell in with a rebel ship of i6or 18
guns, and a brig of 12, both of which he engaged for
near five glasses, during which time he received so much
damage, that it was with the greatest difficulty the
veflel could be kept, and having received sundry shot
under water, yet notwithstanding the disparity of force,
and though the water made in the hold, occasioned by
the fhott holes, cohered the water calks, he determined
to defend the vessel to the Lift exremity • but fortunate
ly his majesty's ships Centurion, Quebec, Amphion,
Bellifarius, and a sloop of 16 guns hove in fight and
captured the two rebels, which arrived here yesterday.
Yesterday arrived the SANDWICH PACKET, capt.
Dillon, with the July mail, in fix weeks and 3 days
from Falmouth. By her we have the following Intel
ligence—
ST. JAMES'S, June 21. Right honourable fir Willi
am Howe, k^ght of the bath, lieutenant generalof
the ordnance, was, by his majesty's command, sworn
of his majesty's most honourable privy council, and
took his place at the board accordingly.
LONDO N, June 22.
The expression dropped yesterday by lord John Ca
vendish in his speech on the new taxes, viz. ft Since the
" people would have war, they must pay for it ; " is a
fufficient proof that miniflry find the public will'not be
fatisfied with a patched up peace. Our late glorious
victories have undoubtedly made a great alteration in
the public expectations, and it now clearly appears,
that the new ministry had no other chance of making a
peace than by unconditional submission.
July 2. Yesterday morning at 11 o'clock died, the
right honourable Charles Watson Wentworth, marquis
of Rockingham.
July 4 On Tuesday captain Lnmfden, arrived at
the admiralty with dispatches from admiral Campbell,
which are said to contain an account that the fleets for
New York, Carolina, Halifax and Newfoundland,
which failed from Torbay on the 18th ult. under convoy
of the Portland of 50 guns, admiral Campbell ; Oifeau
and Danae frigates, the Merlin sloop of war, and some
others having, on Tuesday evening the 25th ult. dis
covered a Orange fleet, which gave chafe to the convoy,
admiral Campbell made the signals for the (Let to dis
perse, confining then of about 30 fail ; all of which, ex
cept four or five, were bound to Newfoundland, the
others to Quebec- The New-York, Halifax and Caro
lina fleets p rted about two days before for their respec
tive places of deftination# Two of the enemy's frigates
gained much on the convoy, and captain Lumfden,then
in the Merlin, is said to nave seen some of them strike
to the frigates, the wtele of the combined fleet coming
up faft ; but night coming on, the Oifeau, Danae and
Merlin had the good fortune to keep together : and in
the morning of the 26th, spoke with admiral Campbell,
having then in company, one ship of the convoy ; but
no further account# are received at present. It is not yet
known what number of ships have been taken in this
unfortunate affair; but it is thought not more than
fifteen ; and as the Newfoundland ships are not of that
importance to the mercantile interest, and the public,
as the other ships, many of which are richly laden,
and some with troops and stores, we flatter ourselves we
shall find the less of trifling consequence to the nation-
July 6. Yesterday there was one of the greatest ap
pearances of members in the house of commons, as well
as the most crouded gallery, perhaps ever known at
this time of the year, under the idea of Mr. Fox Rat
ing his reasons for refgoing his office of fecretaryof Rate.
Mr. Fox came into the house about 4 o'clock quite un
dressed, and gave the signal of his resignation, by taking
his place on thefoppofite fide of the treasury benchfc|buc