The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1777-12-03 00:00:00, page 3

Extras of a letter from St. Mar,l, Scilly, Mg2o.
" Yelterday two American privateers looked
into this harbour, with their colours flying :
when they found there was nothing wofth their
cutting out, our invalids, . poor old fellows,
began to assemble, and hobbled to the place of
arms; but before they had formed, the enemy
had put to sea, and were almost Out of fight.
We hear they have taken a vessel, bound to
Ireland, said to be worth a round sum, an'd
two for Newfoundland."
'June 4. Two motions of feme confeduence
are expected to be made 01 IThurfday next in
the House of Commons, one by Lord North,
the other by Mr. Luttrell ; but on what parti
cular fubje& is not certainly known.
fune 5. Private, though very certain, intel
ligence has been received of an alarming design
on the island of Jamaica; the enterprifirig par
ties being some natives of that island, the Con
gress, and the French at Nichola Mole; and
which design, if executed, had left the said
island in the possession of ne v matters.,
Extras of a letter from Bautry, May 26.
" We have just had a mefftnger here from
Beerhaven, with an account that an American
privateer, of 16 guns, and full of meh, put in
there for water and frefh provisions; she staid
near ten hours, and paid for every things"
7^)28. They write from Petersburg, that
according to the military lift, the present force
of her imperial Majesty, including cavalry and
marines, amounts to 430,000 effeeive men.
August 7. It is confidently reported, that oft
a late solicitation from our Ministry to the Em
press of Russia, for hiring a certain number of
her troops to fight againd our rebellious fub
je&s in America, the Empress made the fol
lowing reply to the negotiator: “ That if
government would make over the Island of
Minorca to her, the would fend 30, woo men to
subdue the Americans, and at her sole expence
maintain and recruit them for two years."
This proposal, if accepted of, by adding Mi
norca to her possessions in the Black Sea, and
her* free navigation in the Archipelago, would
throw the whole Mediterranean and Levant
trade into her hands, and make her the firft
maritime power in Europe.
It is reported that a Great Personage has de
clared that the body guaids, both horse and
foot, shall be fentto America, rather than the
service there shall want men.
September 1. Capt. Gardiner, who brought
the news from General Burgoyne, is promoted
to the rank of Major, by brevet.
N EW-LON DON, November 7.
By a gentleman (a native of Boston) who
made his escape from New-York, and arrived
here last Sunday, we are informed, that he was
taken in March last, in a ship bound from New
bury to Bourdcaux and carried into Plymouth
in England, from whence he came in a trans
port to New-York. He informs us that he left
Plymouth the Bth of July, At which time about
half the militia of the kingdom was kept under
arms to suppress the riling of the populace, so
great were their difaffedtkon to the present mea
sures of administration. That Great-Britain
had applied to all the powers of Europe for
troops to fend to America, but could obtain no
more than 2000, which, with about 400 draft
ed from the guards in England, was the whole
of the reinforcement that lately arrived at New,
York. He was desired by a number of gentle
men in England, to inform the people of this
country, that no more troops would be sent
from any foreign powers, and that England is
drained to such a degree that 4000 troops could
not be raised in the kingdom for twelve months
to come. That by the best intelligence he could
get while in England, above one third of the
people of that country were friends to America:
and that a number of Americans that were
takenin privateers, had, to his knowledge,
been sent to the Eaft-lndjes.
BOSTO N, November 13.
Last Thursday morning the (hip Syren, of 28
guns, one transport ship, and a schooner ran
ashore at Point Judith ; the two last weretaken
with about 40 prisoners, 1 man killed, and 4
wounded. 'Twas expected the Syren would
give up as soon as an 18 pounder fired upon her,
which would be ready the next morning.
By two gentlemen of undoubted veracity,
who arrived in town last evening from New-
London, which place they left last Friday, we
learn, that the Syren frigate, above mentioned,
was entirely bilged, and that our people had
made prisoners of the crew, consisting of about
180 men, and had also secured her guns, &c.
to the value of about 60,0001. lawful money.
On Thursday last arrived at Cambridge Lieu
tenant General John Burgoyne, Enquire,
with the British, and on Friday ihe Hessian
troops, in the full powers of health, who lately
surrendered themselves prisoners of war at the
Northward, to the brave and intrepid Major-
General Gates—whose name ought to be re
tained with gratitude in the bread of every
American..
Monday last arrived at a fafe port at the eaft
werd; a prize brigantine, double decked, from
London; bound to Halifax, taken by Capt. Stac
pole, in the privateer brigantine M'Clary, be
longing to Portsmouth. The invoice of her
cargo amounts to i2,0c01. fterlmg, in the fol
lowing articles; viz. English goods, 13 chests
Boiled tea, loaf sugar; cheese, steel, porter,
hard ware, provisions, &c. The Captain of
the prize informs that on hearing General Bur
goyne had taken Ticonderoga, and his progress
towards Albany, looking upon it that America
was conquered, 35 fail came out with him, la
den rath the like articles, bound to different
ports in America.
Tue/day last a vessel arrived here in a short
passage from St. Peters, Newfoundland, the
master of which informs, that a packet had ar
rived there from France in go days, with orders
for the Governor and inhabitants to evacuate
that place in 8 days, as a war with Great-Bri
tain was inevitable; in consequence of which,
several vessels with all kinds of goods were pre
paring for these ports.
LANCASTER, December 3.
In CONGRESS, November 28, 1777.
Refolded, 1 hat whenever any expedition,
which may be undertaken either by sea or land;
by order or at the expence of the United States
thall fail in the execution; or whenever any
important poR, fort or fortrefs, garfifoned and
defended at. the expence of the United States,
shall be evacuated, or taken by the enemy, it
be an established rule in Congress to institute
an inquiry into the causes of the failure of such
expedition, or into the loss of such post, fort
or fortrefs, and into the conduct of the princi
pal officer or officers conducting the expedition
so failing, or commanding the post, fort or
fortrefs so evacuated, or taken by the enemy.
The inquiry so instituted to be conducted in
such manner as Congress shall deem best adapt
ed for the investigation of truth in the respective
cases. Extras? from the Minutest
Published by order of Congrejs,
Charles Thomson, Secretary^
Extras? of a letter from Paris, sane 25, 17/7'
''. Mr. Lee writes me that he is on his return
from Berlin, having finifhed his business fuccefs
fully at the Court of Prussia. If our enemies
are not fuccefsful, they mean to close with us
on the best terms they can, sensible that if this
great effort does not succeed, they have little
to hope in future. This is an animating reason
for us to pei severe in the glorious contelt. The
English have compleated their loan amongst
themselves; no foreigners have assisted them,
although the terms to the lender are better than
any ever yet offered by that nation except once.
The Spaniards have refufed the mediation of
France and England in their dispute with Por
tugal, being determined to prosecute the war
until Portugal makes reparation and demands
peace. They have taken the important island
of St. Catharine, on the coast of Brazil, with
out loss, and mean vigorously to prosecute their
operations on the Brazils. This I have from
undoubted authority, one of the Family Miniflers.
An account prevails that the Indians of the east
have fallen on their oppressors, and have taken
Madrafs. India stock has fallen in confequencc
of this. Both France and Spain continue their
armaments as if preparing for some great event.
This obliges England to do the fame. Of
course all their naval and army contracts are for
five years, and they employ as many workmen
in the dock yards as they did in the last war.
Captains Weeks, Johnson and Nicholson have
just dertroyed fifteen Veifels on the English and
friffi coalrs. I begin to think war unavoidable."
Extras of a letter from Martimco, timber 1 3.
" A few cays ago'the General received D) a
packet from Kococlle, September the 4th, tie
following intelligence —' Ibat a courier had been
difpatcheu with inlhudions to the French An.-
b<lijor in London, to claim all French veflUs
capered by the English without the limits pre
fcritied By treaty to bound the approach of
French vessels to the coast of British America,
and which have been regularly cleared our for
any French ports. If this reqmfnion is not
complied with, it is co be the signal for leaning
the Biitifh Cohrt. Ihe General has received
orders to put every thing in readiness for war,
and to lay an embargo on all ships destined for
Europe, to prevent their falling into the ene
mies hands. Ihe Minister informs the Gene
ral that 3000 additional troops are coming to
Martinique and Guadeloupe; that uanfports
are already engaged at Havre, Nantes, and
Bourdeaux —At Kochfort, Brest, and T< ulon
they work night and dev, and the gieateft pre
parations are making for the immediate com
mencement of hostilities. The restitution of
the ship Seine and her cargo, is loudly demand
ed by the Court of Versailles, I mentioned in
a former letter that Portugal had detached her
felf from the interefL of Great Britain, and had
entered ihto the family compact. Authentic
advices mention, that the King of Prussia has
opened his ports to the Americans."
Extras? of a letter from a gentleman at Fife-Till,
dated November iq, 1777.
" A whole picket guard came off together
from Kingsbridge two days ago, which they fry
is the second inftante of late. Trie new levies
are very diftohtented, and earnestly wishing to
escape, throwing themselves on the mercy of
General Gates's army, and are passing faft to
Head Quarters,
" Ihe tories are universally difeouraged
through the country, and there appears not in
the minds of the people the least doubt of the
final success of our great and glorious cause."
FortMifflmmi Mud-lfland having some time
since been evacuated, (after a most gallant de
fence, and a siege of fix weeks during which
time the attention of the British fleet and army
was whollv bent upon its reduction,) and the
barracks, &c. destroyed; on Thursday the 20 h
ult. the garrison of Fort Mercer on Red Bank
left that place, having previously defftpyed the
works, &c. We mult not here omit mention
ing that some time before the evacuation of fort
Mercer, a body of about 1500 Heilians, com
manded by Count Donop, made a vigprou at
tack upon it, but were quickly repulsed, with
the loss of about 500 men, killed, wounded and
prisoners, among whom was Count Donop, his
Brigade Major, and many other officers.
We hear that the enemy have latelv evacua
ted the fortrefies of Ticonderoga, Mount In
dependence, Forts Montgomery, Confttution,
and Fort Wafliington, and withdrawn their
troops within the heights of Kingfbridge, near
New-York.
fit The Subfaibers to the Pennftoania Packet,
•when printed at Pbi'aJelphia, are requeJhd to „r ke
immediate payment to the Printer, at Luncafler either
by letter, peff paid, or an, other convenient andf^eed,
method Gentlemen having advertijementt to be in
fer ted in this paper, are requeued to fend the money with
them.
M.XX* .0: MX ^MMMM^MMMMMX
Lancufter, December 1, 1777.
MADE his escape from the fubferiber, Coni
ftable of Sadfbary Township, Chester Coun
ty' a certain THOMAS BULLER, appre
hended for treasonable pradices against the United
States: He is about 5 feet 8 inches high, well built,
of a red complexion and yellow hair; had on a white
coat, light coloured breeches, and blue yarn, flock,
mgs ; formerly lived in Chester County. Whoever
takes up and fecurcs said Buller, so that he may be
brought to justice, shall receive SEVENTY FIVE
DOLLARS Reward, and reasonable charges, paid
by SJOHN BOGGS.
Laneafter, Dec 3, 1777.
BENJAMIN HARBESON,
From PHILADELPHIA,
Now carries on the Coppersmiths business,
at the south weft corner of King and Queen
ftreets, Lancaster, where he makes Stills of aliilzes,
fullers, brewers, and silt petre Coppers. He has
Stills of various fixes, ready made, for falc. f