The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-03-02 00:00:00, page 2

About half past nine, either from a hand grenade being
thrown in at one of the lower deck ports, or from some other
accident, a cartridge of powder was set cm fire, the flames
of wsich running from cartridge to cartridge all the way aft,
blew up me whole of the peopleand officers that were abaft
the m^in-maR, from which unfortunate circumstance all
those guns were rendered useless tor the remainder of the ac
tion, and I fear the greatest part of the people will lose
their lives. At ten o'clock they called for quarters from the
fliip alongside, and laid they had struck : Hearing this, I
ca'hd upon the Capt. to know if they had struck, or if he
asked for quarters; but no answer being made, after re
peating my words two or three times, I called for the boar
ders, and ordered them to board, which they did; but
the moment they were on board her, they difeovered a
superior number laying under cover with pikes in their
hands ready to receive them, on which our people retreat
ed instantly into our own ship, and returned to their guns
till past ten, when the frigate coming across our stern, and
pouring her broadside into us again, without our being
able to bring a gun to bear on her, I found it in vain, and
in short impracticable, from the situation we were in, to
Hand out any longer with the least profped of success; I
therefore flruck (our main mast at the fame time went by
the board.) The firft Lieutenant and myfelf were imme
diately escorted into the fllip alongside, when we found her
to bean American ship of war, called the Bon Homme
Richard, of 40 guns, and 375 men, commanded by Capt.
Paul Jones; the other frigate which engaged us, proved
to be the Alliance, of 40 gums, and 300 men ; and the
third frigate which engaged, and took the Countess of
Scarborough, after two hours adion, to be the Pallas, a
French frigate of 32 guns, and 275 men ; the Vengeance,
an armed brig of 12 guns, and 70 men, all in Congress
service, and under the command of Paul Jones. They
fitted cut and failed from Port I'Orient the latter end of
July, and came North about; they had on board 300
English prisoners which they have taken in different ves
sels in their way round, since they left France, and have
ransomed some others. On my going on board the Bon
Homme Richard, I found her in the greatest diflrefs ; her
Quarters and Counter on the lower deckentirely drove in,
and the whole of her lower deck guns dismounted ; she
was also on fire in two places, and fix or seven feet water
in herhold, which kept increafiag upon them all night
and the next day, till they were obliged to quit her, and
the funk, with a great number of her wounded people on
Admiralty Office, October 12, 1779 #
AL E TTER from Captain Pearson, of hisMajeflyT
ship Serapts, to Mr. Stephens, of which the follow
ing is a copy, was yeflerday received at this office:
Pallas, French Frigate in Congress Service,
Texel, October 6, 1779.
SIR
V 0 U will be pleased to inform the Lords Commission-
I ers of the Admiralty, that on the 23d ult. being close
in with Scarborough, about 11 o'clock, a boat came on
board with a letter from the Bailiffs of that corporation,
giving information of a flying squadron of the enemy s
{hips being on the coast, and a part of the said squadron
having been seen from thence the day before, standing to
the southward. As soon as J received this intelligence I
made the fi.nal for the convoy to bear down, under my
lee, and repeated with two guns; notwithftandiqg which,
the van of the convoy kept their wind, with all fail stretch
ing out to the south ward from under Flambrough head, till
between twelve and one, when the headmof iof them got
in fight of the enemy's fllips, which were then in chafe of
them ; they then tacked, and made the best of their way
under the fllore for Scarborough, &c. letting fly their top
gallant flieets and firing guns; upon which I made all the
fail I could to windward, to get between the enemy's
and the convoy, which I soon effected. At one o'clock
we got fight of the enemy's fllips from the rcaft head, and
about four we made them plain from the deck to be three
large (hips and a brig, upon which I made the C®uqtefs of
Scarborough signal to join me,[fhe being in shore with the
convoy, at the fame time I made the signal for the con
voy to make the best of their way, and repeated the Sig
nal with two guns; I then brought to, to let the C®un
tefs of Scarborough come up, and cleared ship for action.
At half past five the Countess of Scarborough joined me, the
enemy's ships then bearing down upon us, with a light
breeze at 3. S. W. at fix tacked, and laid our head in
fllore, in order to keep our ground the better between the
enemy's ships and the convoy ; soon after which we per
ceived the fllips bearing down upon us to be a two decked
ship and two frigates, but from their keeping end on upon
us, on bearing down, we could not dikern what colours
they were under: At about twenty minutes past seven,
the largest ship of the three brought to, on our larboard
bow, within mufquet shot : I hailed him, and asked what
ship it was ; they answered in English, the Princess Roy
al ; I then asked where they belonged to, they answered
evafiveiy ; on which I told them, if they did not anf^er
direßly, I would fire into them; they then answered with
a flirt, which was instantly returned with a broadside;
and after exchanging two or three broadsides, he backed
his topsails, and dropped upon our quarter within pistol
shot, then filled again, put his helm a weather, and run
us on board upon our weather quarter, and attempted to
board us, but being repulsed, he filtered off; upon which
I backed our topsails, in order to get square with him
Hgain, which, as soon as he observed, he then filled, put
his helm a weather, and laid us athwart hawfe; his
mizen shrouds took cur jib boom, which hung him for
fame time, till at last gave way, and we dropt along fide
of each other, head and stern, when the fluke of our spare
anchor hooking his quarter, we became so close fore and
aft, that the muzzles of our guns touched each others sides.
In this position we engaged from half past eight till half
past ten ; during which time, from the great quantity and
variety of combustible matter which they threw in upon
our decks, chains, and in short info every part of the ship,
we were on fire not less than ten or twelve times in differ
ent parts of the ship, and it was with the greatest difficulty
and exertion imaginable at times, that we were able to
get it extinguished. At the fame time the largest of the
two frigates kept failing round us the whole action, and
taking us fore and aft, by which means she killed or
wounded almost every man on the quarter and main
decks.
From the LONDON GAZETTE.
board her. She had 306 men killed and wounded in the^
a&ion ; our loss in the Seraphis wasalfo very great 1 My
officers and people in general behaved well, and I Ihould
be very remiss in my attention to their merit were I to o
mitrecommending the remains of them totheir Lordlh ps
favor. I must at the fame time beg leave to inform their
Lordships, that Capt. Piercy, in the Countess of Scar
borough, was not in the least remifsin hisduty, he having
given me every assistance in his power, and as much as
could be expelled from such a ship, in engaging the at
tention of the Pallas, a frigate es 32 guns, during the whole
ad ion.
I am extremely sorry for the misfortune that has hap
pened, that of losing his Majesty's ship I had the honor to
command ; but at the fame time, I flatter myfelf with the
hopes, that their Lordihips will be convinced that she has
not been given away ; but on the contrary, that every
exertion has been used to defend her ; and that two essen
tial pieces of service to our country have arisen from it ;
the one in wholly overfetting the cruise, and intentions
of tnis flying squadron ; the other in refeuing the whole
of a valuable convoy from falling into the hands of the ene
my, which must have been the case had I a&ed otherwise
than I did. We have been driven about in the North sea
ever finee the a&i%, endeavouring to make to any
port we possibly could, but have not been able to get
into any place till to day we arrived in the Texel.
Herewith I enclose you the most exaftlift of the killed
and wounded I have been able as yet to procure, from my
people being dispersed amengft the different ships, and ha
ving been refufed permission to muster them: There are I
find many more, both killed and wounded, than appears
on the inclofed lift, but their names as yet 1 find impossi
ble to afeertain ; as soon as I possibly can, Ihall give their
Lordfllips a full account of the whole..
I am Sir,
Your most obedient, and
most humble Servant,
R. PEARSON.
P, S. I am refufed permission to wait on Sir Jo
seph Yorke, and even to go on shore. Enclosed is a
copy of a letter from Captain Piercy, late of the Scar
borough.
Abftrad of the lift of killed and wounded.
Killed — 49
Wounded — 68
Among the killed are the boatswain, pilot, 1 maker's
mate, 2 midshipmen, the coxswain, 1 quarter master, 27
(earnerandif marines. Among the wounded are the se
cond-lieutenant, Michael Stanhope, and lieutenant Whit
man, second-lieutenant of marines, 2 surgeons mates, 6
petty officers, 46 seamen and 12 marines.
Pdllas, a French Frigate, in Congress Service.
Tsxel, Odober 4, 1779.
SIR,
IB EG leave to acquaint you, that about two minutes
after you began to engage with the largest blips of the
enemy's squadron, I received a broadside from one of the
frigates, which I instantly returned and continued enga
ging her for about 20 minutes, when she dropt a-stern.
I then made fail up to the Serapis, to fee if I could give
you any assistance ; but upon coming near you, I found
you and the enemy so clefe together and covered with
smoke, that I could not distinguish one from the o'her;
and for fear I might fireinto the Serapis instead of the ene
my, I backed the main-top-fail in order to engage the at
tention of one of the frigates that was then coming up.
When she got on my starboard quarter, she gave me her
broadside, which, as soon as I could get my guns to bear,
(which was very soon done) I returned, and continued en
gaging her for near two hours; when I was so unfortunate
as to have all my bracts, great part oi the running rig
ging, main and mizen topsail sheets shot away, 7 of the
gun's dismounted, 4 men killed and 20 wounded, and ano
ther frigate coming upon my larboard quarter : In that si
tuation I saw it was in vain to contend any longer, with
any profpea of success, against such superior force; I
flruck to the Pallas, a French frigate of 32 guns and 275
men, but in the service of the Congress I likewise beg
leave to acquaint you, that my officers and flap's com
pany behaved remarkably well the time they were enga
ged. Jam with great refped,
Your most obedient
humble Servant,
T. PIERCY.
LONDO N, November 6.
AN American privateer called the Independent
Hero, of 16 guns, is taken and carried into Cro
martie, in Scotland, by a ship belonging to Glasgow.
A fliip from Haver for Boston, with arms, & . is tokn
and carried into Cork by the Renown Letter of M rque.
Ten (hips of the Line are ordered on the stocks immedi
ately. Every parish in Great-Britain are soon to raise
4 men, which will be an addition to the army of 50,000.
Lord Macartney is returned from France, and has had
a private conference with his Majesty. The Dutch have
ordered all their settlements in the Eaft-lufties to be put
in a proper state of defence.
Extras of a letter from Cork, November 8.
" By a Portugueze ship arrived here in 11 days from
Lisbon, we have advice, that four English privateers had
taken a Spaaifh man of war from the Havannah, bound to
Spain, and another fllip of immense value, and carried
them into Lilbon. One of the above privateers is said to
be the Fury of 26 guns."
The Court of Spain are giving all imaginable encourage
ment to American seamen, finding them much better than
their own. A ship of the line fitting out at Cadiz for the
Havannah, is burnt to the water's edge by accident.
Nov. 15. A Spanish fliip, of between 600 and 700 tons,
laden with sugar, coffee, logwood, and hard dollars,
bound from the Havannah to Cadiz, valued at 200,000!.
is taken by the Antigallican privateer, and carried into
Lisbon.
Nov, 20. The Atlantic privateer has carried into Pool
a French ship called the Royal Lewis, from Martinico,
with sugar, coffee, &c. Governor Johnston is failed with
his squadron for the coast of Portugal.
Nov. 26, Letters from Portfmoath relate, that the
celebrated Captain Cook had arrived fafe at the East-
Indies.
1962 majority.
Nov. 29. This day's paper informs us, that an express
arrived on Sunday last frorp Ireland, which gives an ac
count, that the House ol Commons had unanimously pas
sed a Money Bill, to continue only fix months, that is to
fay, it commences at Christmas, and ends in June.
Nov. 30. Y^fterday a duel was fought between Mr,
Charles Fox, and Mr. Adams, in whict Mr. Fox receiv
ed a wound which is not dangerous.
Decern. 2 It will be a fatisfa^bon to the friends and
relations of the ingenious philosopher and adventurous
seaman, Capt. Cook, to be affixed that we have the best
authority to fay that he is fafeiy arrived in the river Can
ton, in China, in perfed health, three days before the
Danish ship, who brings the intelligence, left that place,
and that he would soon fail for Europe.
Lord Stormont is made Secretary of State, in the room
of Lord Weymouth: He takes the place of Earl Gower ,
and Lord Hillfborough is in the room of Earl Suffolk.
HOUSE of COMMONS, December 2.
Agreed to the report of the resolutions of y^fterday,
on the fu]>ply. That 85,000 seamen including marines,
be employed for sea service, for 1780 and that 41. per
man per month, be allowed for maintaining the said men,
including the ordnance for sea service.
Lord North, in answer to a speech made by Mr. Hart
ly, said, " The dangerous confederacy against this nati
on, mentioned by his Majefiy, certainly meant that of
France, Spain, and the rebels in America. He did not
think It necessary (0 make a separate clause of America.
It was comprehended, and he certainly did not mean to
withdraw the troops from America, nor yet to allow the
independance of the colonies. His Lordship spoke slight
ly of a conversation that had passed between him and
Mr, Hartley, abouta truce with France, but he d : d not
approve of the proportion ; for he would not tacitly ac
knowledge the independence of America. And vs to a
truce, he looked upon it in the fame light as the truces
which Spain made with Holland and Portugal, when
those Countries were ft pirating Tom the Crown of Spain.
They ended in a peace, acknowledging that separation-
This was the lure held out in order to draw Great-Bri
taio by a truce to acknowledge the independence of A
rn^rica, that it might be the ground for confirming it in
a treaty of peace. He did not doubt the gentleman meant
well, but he had the misfortune net to agree with h m ia
opinion, and he never expeaed to hear a loose c'onver
fation repeated.
Orders are gone down to Portsmouth for ten fail of
the line, to hold tnemfelves in readiness at a moment's
warning, to fail for the Weft-Indies; they are to take
under their convoy, transports with 10,000 troops, in or
der toattack the French sugar inlands.
Dec. 3 The vcffel which arrived yesterday from New-
York, with dispatches to Lord George Germaine, 1 rings
account of the loss of the Prince of Wales, of 74 guns,
(which is the fllip Admiral Barrington was in when he en
gaged the Count D'Eflaing) she funk in a violent gale of
wind, in her passage from the Weft Indies to England.
Dec. 7. Two 20 gun fllips are ordered to fail immedi
ately, to carry dispatches toSir Henry Clinton, who ae
this time is foppofed to be in South Carolina.
Yesterday Captain S Iter, of the Hussar frigate, arriv
ed at the Admiralty Office, with dispatches from Gibral
tar. On his passage he fell in with and took a Spanish
frigate, from the South seas, with a mi'lion of fpeJe, be
sides other rich commodities on board. The Hussar mounts
28 guns, the Spaniard 36, and was capable®! carrying 60,
Commodore Johnftone, in the Romney, o' 52 guns,
with the Tartar, and another frigate, and the Ran efnake
cutter, arrived at Lisbon on the 13th November. On bis
paftage he took the Sista Margaretta, a very fine Spa-
Billi frigate of 36 guns.
The Tartar of 28 gu^s, one of Commodore John
flone's squadron, has taken a Spanish fri ate of 28 guns.
Extract ofa letter from Newc file, Dec. 4.
" The Havenuero, Capt Jofepb Milln, of sootons bur
then, from the Havannah to Cadiz, with a valuable cargo
on board, is taken by the Antigallican privateer of this
port, and carried into Lilbon.
Extr a ofa letter Iron Dartmouth, Nov. 6.
" The following is an erad account of the cargo of the
Spanish ship the N. Sde Piedad, taken by the Dart pri
vateer ol this port, and now fafe in our harbour ; ffie is
upwards of 600 tons burthen, has been built seven years,
mounts 16 carriage guns had 70 men, was fitted up for
close quarters, and yet struck to the Dart, after firing on
ly two guns, though she mounts but 14 four pounders,
had but 60 men, and is not 200 tons burthen :
142,117 Silver dollars,
38,949 dollars in gold doubloons,
31 ingots of gold,
5 ingots of silver,
42 bales of fine beaver,
31,061 hides in the hair,
3 bales of fine wool,
1 ditto fine fur,
Exclusive of the ingots of gold and silver (the value of
which is cot known) the rest of the cargo as far as it hath
been known by the bills of lading (though it is supposed
there is more on bo?rd) amo nts to 80,0001.
Dec. 18. Yesterday afternoon an officer from Sir Pe
ter Parker's fleet arrived at the Admiralty, with advice
that a detachment of frigates, with a body of land-forces,
had furprized and taken a fort in the Spanish Weft- Indies,
with twoSpanifh galleons in the harbour, having on board
three millions of dollars, besides other goods. The abeve
ships put into that port on hearing that war was declared
between Gre:t.^rrt,in and & ib to wait for a convoy,
of which the Admiral got qtlk , nee.
Capt. Lr.it < ?the Ch rm, of ;$ f;uns, together with
the Pornos . l of guhs the Porcupine
and Raceh< of Oftober the fort
of Omoa, in the Bay 9 Hoodyra^ k? r '^ ranforn of which
three huud. • : G^..u d,la^ we^e offered. Two, hun
dred an % q^ntah; of qhi * ^t# were found in the
fort, fox,. 0? rns .<.: u'le the v: lue, as
they cc< ^ucu^ir ^ines ^nout it. Both the
Wedoefday last being the third day of the eießion of ^
Chamberlain for thecuy f Mr. James finding it in vain te
contend any longer, left the field to Mr. Wilkes. On cast
ing up the pell, the numbers appeared thus,
For Mr. Wilkes, 2332
Mr. James, 370