The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-09-15 00:00:00, page 2

LONDO N.
May 4. The navy debt in 1770, was 1,400,000!.
Sterling. In the course of ten years it has progressive-
Jy increased to what we now fee it made up to Christ
mas last, 9,723,4151.
• n few 'ays ago, in digging the foundation of a house
in Doncafler, a Roman altar was found, about five
high and ?8 inches broad, perfectly compleat.
May 5. The only important blow that has been
given to any of the enemy's men of war, during the
present conreft, was the capture of the Spanish ships
by admiral Rodney. Thisrecolledion may damp the
courage of the Spaniards, though from the experience
we have had of attempting any engagement with the
French, we have no reafop to think they would have
Bulked like the Spaniards, with such a force as they
possess, under the protection of them harbour.
It must afford fatisfadion to the put lie, to find that
the frcret committee of enquiry into the causes of the
present Rate of our affairs in India, have entered up
on their duty with a spirit that indicates an intention
to pursue it in a manner worthy bf the importance of
the object. They have attended for these two days
past, at a room in the India house, from ten o'clock
till three, and have had a variety of papers before
them for their arrangement in the progress of the en
quiry. The lord advocate, and the other gentlemen of
the law, who are upon the committee, seem inclined to
give a Arid attendance, notwithstanding it is now term
lime, and their legal business must of course be in a
great measure negleded. The deliberations of these-
Cret committee of the house of commons, relative to
Indian affairs, will embrace all India, the result of
-which,it is to be hoped, will not only put a stop to the
future peculations of English nabobs, but heal the
present dissensions now reigning in several of the pre
sidencies. / ,
May 7. Sir Robe t Harland has been offered the
American command, with an addition of fix fail of the
line, four frigates, and to name all his captains.
Captain M Kenzie, who commanded toe grenadiers
of lord M'Leod's regiment, was the last offi.er that re
moaned on the field of battle, when he delivered his
sword to one of Hyder Ally's soldiers, who told him
he had orders to give no quarters, and killed him with
his own fwerd.
Fresh complaints have been exhibited at the admi
ralty, on account of the weakness of our powder.
Extract of a letter from Dover, May 4 ,
* This morning landed here a foreigner of diftindi
on, but whether he came from France or Spain we
could not learn, but only that he is going to tranfad
some business at the court of London."
The Jesse, Campbell, from Clyde so Jamaica, was
taken by the Holker American privateer, to the wind,
ward of St. Kitt's
May 15. Late advices from from France inform us,
.that it was the French ship I'Eveille, of 60 guns, with
the Gentille, and arother frigate, which (in their pur
suit after Arnold and the troops he was carrying to
Chefapeak Bay) took the British ship Romulus of 44
guns, behdes 500 men, whom they made prisoners;
they inform us that they found in it the military chef?;
1500 uniforms, and 1500 Bands of arms, which eloath
ed and armed the Virginia nulitia ; they also set fire to
23 transport Ships, which had taken refuge near the
ihore as a place of fafety.
The account of lord Cornwallis's late victory, as
given in the gazette, is to imperfect that nothing deci
sive can be collected from it. It is called a viftory, in
deed ; but, if other accounts may be depended on', we
have nothing to boaftof. Our loss is said to be upwards
of 1000 men, and if credit is to be given to other ac
counts, lord Cornwallis had twice been repulsed. That
general Greene had fallen back to receive the reinforc
went of general Morgan, who was within one day's
inarch of him; and monf. Fayette, who was within
three days march, with a reinforcement of between
two and three thousand French troops. The wretched
.slate of the army under lord Cornwallis, according to
his own account, gives every reason to apprehend that
the next account will be very unfavourable.
The conjecture which we hazarded a few days since,
refpeding the designs of our enemies, has been this day
fatally realized. Gibraltar is the rock upon which we
split, when Darby appeared before it.—Why was he sent
there? Because ministers wanted (what they are inex
cusable in not having) proper information of the de
igns of France. At this moment we are exposed in
every part of the kingdom to any impression they may
chufe to make! and that our commerce is entirely in
HAMBUR G H, May 29.
TH E rumours of peace have entirely ceased
since the opening of the campaign, and the poli
tical fce of Europe seems to be quite changed.
Nothing is talked of but formidable alliances. The tri
ple alliance between the courts of Peterfburgh, Vienna
and London, appears no longer doubtful; advices from
different parts confirm the conclusion of it. The depar
ture of the emperor for the Low Countries moreover oc
cafion a variety of (peculations. It is to be hoped that
the matter now treating of in the different cabinets, will
procure a speedy peace, otherwise the war may become
general in Europe.
Hanover, June 15. Since the return of lieutenant
general Fawcett from London, we ate railing two new
regiments of icoo men each, for the service of Great
Britain ; they will be sent, it is said, to the East Indies.
.. h'"'' June 20. T actually appears that the repub
Ac not ' i;n £ to ex p e & from the armed neutrality.
After a """ a"" man Y deliberations, of which the
the British have known how to make their advantage,
IWeakening us, and enriching and Strengthening
" em felves by our spoils, we Ifarn, that we are reduc.
ed to depend on ourselves for defence, unless we agree
to the pressing felicitations of the other enemies of Bri
tain, to make a common cause, and join together in
°P era "°°. s to strike a sensible blow on our enemy.
.. e ? re v ' r y impatient to know what steps the repub
lic wilt take espe cially at this time, when the fix months
Stipulated in the treaty of Bre, a expires.
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.
From the LONDON GAZETTE, June 16, rySt.
Admiralty-Office, June 15, 1781.
Extract of a letter received the 12th instant, from
vice admiral fir Edward Hughes, K. B and com
mander in chi's of his majefiy's ihips and vessels in
the Ead Indies, to Mr. Stephens, dated at Bombay,
January 2, r?Bi.
ON the 17th of October I failed from Madras road,
intending to proceed to the relief of Tellicherry
on this coift, (closely invested by the Nairs, and
a detachment of Hyder Ally's troops) and from thence
to this port, to clean and refit the Ihips.
I arrived in Tellicherry road on the 27th of Novem
ber, where I found two of the company's armed snows,
and a transport ship, which had brought flores and
ammunition to the garrifen a few days before; in
the mean time, the armed boats of the Ihips in Cal
licut road, cut out and brought away one of Hyder
Ally's ships, and forced the oilier on ihore, but in
the course of their operation, the Sartine fr gate be
ing warped into shoal water t^cannonade the enemy's
ships, firuck on the rocks at low water, and filled, so
that she was totally loft; a part of her fails, top
masts, booms, and some other Acres, being all tiw
could be saved out of her.
After having left a captain of marines, with four of
ficers, and an hundred and eighty rank and file, with
on, thousand barrels of powder at Tellicherry, for its
defence, until a reinforcement ihculd arrive from Bom
bay, I failed with all the squadron towards Bombay,
on the sth of December last.
On the Sth of December, being off Mangalore, tie
principal fra port of Hyder Ally on the Malabar coast,
I saw two ships, a large snow three ketches, and ma
ny Smaller vessels, at anchor in the road, with Hyder
Ally's colours flying on beard them ; and, Handing
with the squadron close into the read, found them
to be vessels of force, and all arm'd for war; on
which I anchored as close to the enemy's vessels as pos
sible, with fafety tothe fliips, and ordered the armed
boats of the squadron to attack and destroy them, un
der cover of the fire of the company's two armed snows,
and of the prize fliip cut out of Callicut road, which
were anchored in shoal water, and close to the enemy's
fllips. This service was conduced, on the part of our
boats, with a spirit and activity that do much honour
to the officers and men employedin them; and, in two
hours, they took and burnt the two fliips, one of 28,
the other of 26 guns ; one ketch of 12 guns was blown
up by the enemy at the infiant our boats were hoard
ing her ; another ketch of 10 guns, which cut her ca
bles, and endeavoured to put to sea, was taken ; and
the third ketch, with the smaller vessels, were all forc
ed on fllore, the (now only efca ping into the harbour,
after having thrown every thing over board to lighten
her.—On this service the squadron loft lieutenant Gomm
of the Burford, and ten men killed: Lieutenant Sut
ton of the Superb, lieutenant Maclellan of the Eagle,
and fifty one men wounded, many of them since dead.
On the 20th of December I arrived with the squadron
in this harbour, and immediately set about docking and
resiting the ships for service, which I hope to accomplish
all in the month of March."
We are told, that in the hurry to get the people on
board the ships on the approach of the French at PortPra
ya, anumber were left on shore, who being vexed at not
getting to their ships, yet unwilling to be inactive,
hurried away to the Portuguese fort, and wanted to
connonade Monsieur Suffering from the shore, under
the Portuguese flag, but being refufed permission, were
exceedingly provoked, and had like to have got into
a (quibble with the commandant.
Extract of a letter from Harwich, June 13.
" Monday captain Hearn and his crew arrived here
in a passage boat from Oftend. On Sunday evening the
3d current on his passage to Helvoet, they fell in with
two large cutters, which immediately gave chace, and
on the 4th, about one or two in the morning, the Prince
of Wales funk her three mails and was obliged to firike
to (uperior force, after a chace of three hours. The
cutter .which firft boarded captain Hearn, proved to be
the Liberty lately cut out of Aberdeen by the noted
Fall, and manned by some of his crew ; and Fall, with
his cutter the Fearnought, was at the fame time a Small
distance a-flern. The packet men were immediately
handcuffed, and put on board the Liberty, which pro
ceeded with them for Flushing, but, in endeavouring to
work in the haven firuck upon a sand, and was loft, and
the crew and prisoners narrowly escaped being drown
ed, by the assistance of Fall, who carried them into
Flushing, in company with the packet. The behavi
our of Fall was beyond expectation, but his people
robbed captain Hearn and his crew of their cloaths, mo
ney, &c. and destroyed many papers of consequence
of a Ruffian messenger, who was passenger on hoard
captain Bearn ; treated the messenger roughly, and
robbed him of two valuable watches, a quantity of
money, &c. Captain Hearn and his people, through
the interest of the English couful at Offend, and other
friends, got permission to return to England."
General Dalling is to be ordered ho re, and is to be
Succeeded in his government of Jamaica by colonel
Campbell, the present lieutenant governor. And lord
Shuldham has obtained the command of the fleet on the
Jamaica Ration, in the room of fir Peter Parker, who
is expected to arrive in the convoy of the nxt Lee
ward island fleet.
June 18. The day fixed for the railing of parliament
is the 20th of July.
The Conqueror of 74 guns, captain Balfour, at Ply
their power, the melancholy news of this d'y too clear
ly proves. What is there to prevent an attempt on the
Charleftown fleet, if our enemies; ere ferioully dispos
ed to make it? They might have every ship. Let this
rouse ministers to a sense of its danger.
The late news from America was not received with
those demonstrations of joy usually expreft on mighty
battles won. The complexion of the last gazette was
too dark and gloomy. Lord Cornwallis's returns are
expelled with fear and tr mbling, least the long cata
logue of departed heroes should d fcover, that vidories,
like gold, may be purchased too dear. Our loss on the
above occaflon, it is said, has not been less than 800
killed.
rolina.
" Dear Sir, Wilmington, 23d Apr ; l, 1781.
" ft gives me great concern to undertake a talk
which is not only a 'itter renewal of my grief, but
must be a violent shock to an affeaionate parent. You
have for your support the assistance of religion, good
sense, and an experience of the uncertainty of all human
happiness. You have for your fatisfa&ion, that your
son fell nobly in the cause of his country, honoured
and lamented by all his fellow soldiers ; that he led a
life of honour and virtue, which must secure to him
everlasting happiness. When the keen sensibility of
the paffons begins a Tittle to subside, these considera
tions will give you real comfort.
" That the, Almighty may give you fortitude to
bear this severest of trials, is the earnest with of you^
companion in affliction, and most faithful servant,
CORNWALLIS."
ADMIRALTY OFFICE, June 19.
Extract of a letter from captain Fanfhaw of the Eg
mont, Mr. to Stephens, dated at sea. May 31. “ In the
course of our voyage from Jamaica, the Endymion
took the French ship le Marquis de la Fayette,. Gal
lathea, commander, of 1200 tons, mounting 40 guns
(pierced for 60) 200 men, laden with arms and eloath
ing on account of the American Congress, and bound
to Philadelphia, after a handsome running adion of
about two hours."
Copy of a letter written by the count de Byland at
St. Euftatius, and addressed to the prince Stadthold
er, on the fubjeft of the capture of that island,
and of the frigate which he commanded.
Mofl serene prince,
IT is not without the greatest concern that I find
myfelf under the necessity of informing your high
ness of an event so disagreeable to me as the capture of
the republic's frigate the Mars, and the surrender of
the island of St. Euftatins,at dilcretion, to the English
fleet, on the 3d of the present month. This fleet, com
manded by fir G. B. Rodney, and confining of 16 ships
of the line, several frigates, bomb ketches and other
small vessels, came to anchor that day in our road. I
immediately dispatched a (loop to the admiral, to pay
him my compliments, by lieutenant Van Stuyvezant,
and to be informed if I could render any service to him
or his fleet. This sloop was detained, from whence it ap
peared but too clearly what I had to expert ; but I did
not know how to make myfelf certain of the true situati
on of affairs, as a second (loop would undoubtedly have
met with the fame fate as the firft; mean time we saw
the sloop belonging to the Mars, filled with English
sailors, though bearing the flag of the Republic, cro's
the harbour, I attempted to fire upon it, but before
this could be effected, she retired behind some English
vessels. In fine, at about half past one, an office from
the Resolution came on board, and demanded the sur
render of the frigate in the name of the king of Eng
land, who had made declaration of war against the Re
public. My answer was, that I should wait for an
attack. Upon the inflant three Ihips of the line, one
of 80 guns, another of 74, and the other of 64, began
their fire upon the frigate, which obliged me, after
having discharged a double broadside, to firike my
flag, feeing that it was impotable to effe€ tany thing
against a force so much superior.
There were none of my crew either killed or wound
ed, the greatest part of the shot being lodged in the
rigging. Little as, to my gr^at mortification, it was
within my capacity to perform yet I am convinced,
and doubt not your highness will be of the fame opini
on, that under luch circumflances it wasquite impos
sible for me to do more. The conduct of the admiral
and his officers, so far as refp^as me, my officers and
crew, has been in the highest degree amiable, and such
as will for ever merit our gratitude.
I have the honour to be, &c.,
F. S. BYLAND.j
Friday night major lord Colvill, and several other
officers of 51st and 61st regiments, in garrison at Mi
norca, arrived in town by way of France, and brought
dispatches from governor Murray to government.
In consequence of an express to the honorable cap
tain Napier, pilots and provisions are provided for the
Jamaica fleet, whichds hourly expected in Leith road ,
and, together with the Baltic fleet, will make between
five and fix hundred fail now lying there,
A letter from on board commodore Johnffone's (qua
drop fays, that when the Annibal went out of the B ,
disabled, the English and rest of the. French squadron
were engaged and Continued ' fighting for a considerable
time, and at last the French sheered off. This circum
flance, which is not mentioned in the gazette, accounts
for commodore Johnftone's not taking the disabled An
nibal, a matter which has hi herto appeared aftonifb
ing to the public in general, and to naval gentlemen in
particular. It will also be ohferved that it was only
an extras of commodore Johnfloue's letter which ap
peared in the gazette, therefore the public could not
judge of all the particulars, unless they had seen the
whole letter.
Extract of a letter frem e~ : rl Cornwallis to the reverend,
dolor Webster, father of the late truly brave Ifeut.
Colonel Webster, of the 33d r giment, who died af
ter the action at Guilford Court house, North-Ca-
mouth, is one of the ships ordered for America with
admiral Digby.
The Santa Lucadia, just arrived at Spithead, prize
to the Canada, is one of the fineft frigates ever built,
being 146 feet long and near 40 broad; her rate of fail
ing, it is said, is superior to most fliips, and the Ca
nada would never have been able to overtaken her, but
by coming up with her in the night. The Spanish.
captain's right arm is shot off above the elbow ; he is
a man of high quality, and the most expert officer in
the service.
The squadron ordered for the coast of Africa, will
take under their convoy all the ihips destined for Afri
ca and Guinea, which confifis of about ,0 fail of ves
sels from different parts of Great-Br tain and Ireland.
Since the lateengagement between commodore JohCT-,
done and the French, many passengers on board the
India fliips, and officers in th-; Company'- service, have
wrote home to insure to the full amount of their pro
perty.,