The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1783-05-17 00:00:00, page 2

CTH^ court and capital are in the^tmoft cookery
2 nation, every hour bringing Irefh accounts of
the dreamful hacock that has been made in the 0 hole
province of the Lower Calab:ia, and in the parts of
Sicily nearest the continent, by a violent earthquake
that happened the sth inflant, and was continuing at
intervals the 7th and Bth, the dates of the last acc ones.
From the mod authentic relations, the calamity has
been^neral, and most diftrefsful, on the whole coast
of Cambria Ultra, extending upwards of one hundred
and fifty miles. From Tropea to Squillace most or
the towns and villages appear to have been totally or
in part overthrown, and many of the inhabitants bu
ried in ruins; but as the firft shock happened in the
day time, about noon, the mortality wil 1 , it is hop
ed, prove much less than is generally represented.
Notwithstanding that this government, on the very
firft notice of the calamity, took the wisest and most
humane measures for the immediate relief of such of
the poor (offerers, who having efcaptd from their ru
ined habitations, were wandering about without either
food or ihelter, it is to be feared that many will, be
familhed before that relief can arrive, the wind 'till
yefle^day having been contrary, and the roads being
almost impassable. One of his Sicilian majesty s fri
gates is arrived here from Medina, the captain of
which was on fllore at the moment of the earthquake,
and with difficulty escaped on board has Blip He de
clares that the city is totally destroyed, with a part
of the citadel. The sea rose very lonfiderably on the
Sicilian coast, and retired from that of Calabria ; and
it is remarkable that the houLs in Sicily fell ina direc
tion from the sea, and those in Calabria towards it.
The carnival here is suspended ; all the theatres are
shut, and the churches are opened.
L O N DO N, March 1.
A gentleman lately arrived in town from Dunkirk
fays, that trade begins to be very brisk in that town,
but he believes run goods into England, Scotland and
Ireland, such as brandy, tea, sugar, and tobacco, are
the principal articles they put on board. Five flout
vcffels had near taken in their lading when he failed
from that port, and others lay ready to load.
By authentic advices from India we learn, that fir
Richard Bickerton arrived off Fort St. David's, the
29th of Augußlaß, with his fleet extremely sickly,
and that monsieur Scuffrein, after trying in vain to
get Bores to refit his fleet, and repair his damaged
flips, had been obliged to go to the island of Mauri
tin's, where he arrived in a mod flattered condition,
and remained there on the 20. h of O&ober.
Some advices are received from the East-Indies:
they do not come, however, by the way of France,
but from Holland, by means of a Dutch packet from
Batavia, which place the left the beginning of Octo
ber, and arrived at the cape of Good Hope in two
months.
The accounts the brings of affairs in the Eafl-Indi
es, are what wer,e in general circulation at the Cape,
and are briefly as follows: Sir Edward Hughes, with
a British squadron of eleven ffiips cf the line, and fri
gates, was at the island of Ceylon the latter end of
August. In the beginning of September another Bri
tish squadron of seven men of war arrived on the coast
of Coromandel, with a commodore's pendant on board
a (hip of 90 guns: they had been several months from
England . and their crews, from the length of the voy
age were exceedingly unhealthy, having buried a num
ber of seamen in their passage.
Monsieur Souffreia, with thirteen ships of the line,
was at the Mauritius; the,whole of his fleet, except
three ships, being in a very bad condition, wanting
fiores of every kind to effe& a compleat repair. La
Naflau, a ship of 60 guns, [this is an old Dutch man
of war, has been several years in the east, and was
built at Batavia] was refitting at the Cape in order to
go down to join the French fleet; there were seven of
the Dutch company's ships waiting a convoy for Eu
rope, and two bad arrived from Holland; they were
large vessels of 54 guns each, but came out as trading
ships, having their lower deck guns in their hold,
which they would mount on .the delivery of their car
goes, and it was supposed would not remain at Bata
via, the place of their destination, but join the French.
At Batavia, when th, packet failed, that settlement
were more healthy than usual, and they had seven
ships waiting for cargoes.
March 13. Many people are unable to form an
adequate idea of the extent of the diftrids ceded in
Atnerica, because the geography of that immense
country is not well known. It will not be amiss
therefore to compare the difiriHs ceded with countries
with which we are more acquainted. The following
mbafurements are made with accuracy:
The river Ohio is navigable from Fort Pitt to its
npifh, which is a length of 1164 miles.
The lands on the banks of the Ohio, and between
the Albganny mountains, the lakes Ontario and Erie,
and the Illinois and Miffifippi rivers, contain 233,200
square miles, which is nearly equal to Great- Britain
and France, whole contents are only 235,237 square
miles.
The lands between the Illinois, lakes Huron and
Superior, and the Miffifippi at the falls of St. Antho
ny, contain 129,030 square miles, nearly equal to
Great-Britain and Ireland, which contain only 131,800
square miles.
Tne lands from St. Anthony's falls to the south line
from the lake of the woeds to the bead of the Miffifip
pi, contain 59,000 square miles, which is more than
Holland Flanders and Ireland, which contain only
57,9°8 square miles —-
Bast Florida alone contains 35,000 square miles, and
is nearly as large as Ireland, which has only 35 400
square miles.
Ti,e United States of America contain 207,050 square
mile>, nearly as laige as all Germany, Flanders, Hol
Foreign Intelligence.
NAPLES, February 18.
land, and Switzerland, which contain 270,483 square
mii s.
March 17. The king Cent, on Thursday, to the
duke of Portland, and acquainted his grace, that the
ministry proposed by his party, Ihould be accepted; his
mfrfly requiring, at the fame time, that the chancel
lor The old retain liis situation, and lord Stormont have
one" of the principal departments of date. Mr. Pitt
keeps to chancellorship of the exchequer, at the suit
of all parties.
The foreign papers, received by yesterday's French
mail, contain a confirmation of the disasters which
have lately happened in Sicily : they furtheradd, that
the' whole province of Ulterior Calabria has shared the
fame fate of Medina; that the sea now occupiesthe
spot where flood before goo flourilhing villages, and 40
cities, (even of which were Bishoprics; and that the
greatest apprehensions are entertained of the city of
Naples being also on the brink of deliruflion, from the
thick and threatening smoke that ilceffantly issues from
Mount Verfuvius.
March 18. The French court pays at the rate of
70,0001. per annum, to ficute the friendfhip of the
Swedes, in order to counterbalance the influence of
Great-Britain with the Danes, and secure the alliance
of that northern power, in case Russia Ihould declare
hoflilitiei against the house of Bourbon.
Extract of a letter from an officer of rank in the army,
dated Charleftown, South-Carolina, December 12,
1782.
“ The evacuation of this place will be finifhed the
14th infiant, and the greatest part of the troops go
to New-York. About a thousand are going to Ja
maica with brigadier general Stuart, that island being
still under the apprehensions of an attack. lam going
to New-York, and believe, Ihall soon have the plea
lure or feeing you in Great (I might with propriety
now fay Little) Britain. Every thing (except the
troops) are embarked, and we (hall fail in three or four
days. The scenes of horror and distress occasioned
by this event, beggar all description. To abandon
a province of so much real consequence; to abandon
elegant homes, fine plantations, and their dearest
conneaions, to seek a scanty fubfifleoce in the barren
province of Eaß-Fhorida, from ease, wealth, and even
luxury here, and all this from the misfortune only of
being loyal, is at once cruel, inhuman, barbarous and
disgraceful."
HOUSE of COMMONS, March 15, 1783.
TOBACCO TRADE.
Sir Herbert Macworth gave notice, that he would
on Monday next make a motion with regard to the
tobacco laws. Sir Herbert said, the new situation of
America made it necessary, that something fliould be
immediately done upon the fubjeft. That the pream
ble to one of the mod operative ads, relative to the
importation of tobacco from Virginia, slated, that the
necessities of that colony called for encouragement to
its flaple produce on the part of this country ; Virgi
nia, therefore, no longer being dependent on Great-
Britain, fir Herbert said, he thou ght some law, to al
low the cultivation and growth of tobacco at home,
highly necessary.
Lord Suhey said, perhaps the honourable baronet
was not aware, that an all had passed last year, laying
such penalties on the cultivation and growth of tobac
co, in that part of Great-Britain called Scotland, as
had in fad amounted to a total prohibition. His lord
(hip further declared, that he thought the agitating
any queflion relative to tobacco, pending the negocia
tion of a commercial treaty with the United States of
America, extremely improper.
Sir Herbert said, he was aware of the difficulty start
ed by his honourable friend, but dill he thought the
fubje& important, and that it could not be brought
forward too soon. When it was before the house, they
would dispose of it, as their wisdom and prudence
ihould dired.
DUBLI N, February 27.
Should party in England so far prevail, as to be at
tended with the consequence of lord Temple's quitting
the government of Ireland, it will be one of the molt
unfortunate events that could possibly take place for
the kingdom. The many salutary reforms his lord
ship has already introduced into several official depart
ments, makes it moB ardently wished that he may stay
till he has complicated the good work. Striß virtue,
great abilities, and indefatigable attention to business,
are lord Temple's undeniable charafteriftics. Not on
ly principle in Temple, but the independency of his
fortune, secures from him a conduit truly great, up
right and popular. No lord lieutenant of Ireland was
ever more beloved and revered than his present excel
lency; nor was the departure of any chief governor
ever so universally regreted as will his be, in the un
fortunate moment that deprives us of the infinite con
sequence of his abilities and virtues.
March 11. A letter from Paris, written by colonel
Dalrymple, to a gentleman here, fays, a pressing in
vitation has been lent by the King and queen of France
to general Washington, to come for some months, at
lead, to Versailles, and in perfop receive the invefti
tute of the honors that await him, A line of battle
ship is ordered from Martinico to Philadelphia, to take
the general 011 board, if he accedes to the willies of
their majesties.
There never happened an event more providentially
for this country than the present peace, which took
place at the moment that the difirefs of the manufac
turers, and of all the poor in general, was arrived to
a crisis of calamity as great as in the spring, 1779,
with this addition of the high price of all the necessa
ries of life to render it insupportable. What a sud
den and happy change has tucceeded? every hand is
set to work, and all the song of cheerful induhry is
heard in ail parts of the city, instead of that heart
piercing cry of sorrow, and murmurs of distress. Our
traders animated with a truly patriotic ardor, boldly
launch their property on the sea or commercial adveo
ture, determined in every possible manner to explore
the channels through which tire fabrics of their coun
try may find their way.
CHARLESTOW N (South-Carolina) April 2^
Tuesday last wasa day ever to be remembered, such
a one as this Bate never before enjoyed—'twas the pe
riod of its severe distress, a confirmation of its freedom
and happiness, and the consummation of independence-
The pleasing countenances of the citizens on Monday
were truly expressive of the pleasure they derived from
receiving the official account (publifheJ in the Gazette
on Sunday) of the conclusion of a war, began on one
fd e ,in injustice, carried on in wickedness and folly—and
opposed on the other from the Brideß principle of felf
defence, the maintenance of their freedom and proper
ty. For the fake of the few, comparatively speaking,
real friends to America in England, (for by much the
greater number fuffered themselves to be seduced to
take part against her,) who at every rifque dared to
execrate the war, and who tenderly and affeftionately
felt for her in all her distresses throughout the severe
and bloody contest to which she had been reduced—
for their fake this event gives us, as it will them, the
most heartfelt pleasure. But England may be assured
(and let them note that one to whom they have been
wont to pay attention, fays it) that America will never
cease to remember, with the most lively gratitude;
that generous help in her distress received from the
court of France, began on the mod difinterefled prin
ciple, and by the event confirmed to have originated
in as nice a principle of national honour as ever distin
guished any Bate by fuccour afforded to the oppressed.
Agreeable to directions which had been given, about
four o'clock in the afternoon the South Carolina con
tinental line, under the command of major Hyrne,
drew up in open order at the State-house, on the right,
and the Charleflown regiment of militia under the
command of colonel Alexander Moultrie, on the left ;
the colours planted in front of the center of the line,
and a band of music in the interval of the two lines.
About five o'clock Me. Bieriff Stevens, with the pro
clamation of the declaration of a cessation of hostilities
between America and Great-Britain in his hand,
mounted on horse, with the marshal of the admiralty
on horse on his left, and the deputy marshal on horse
back before, carrying the tipftaff, proceeded from Mr.
fheriff Stevens's house to the State.houfe in front of the
center of the line, where the colours were flying and
music playing, and the whole line at ordered firelocks;
when, after a (haum being founded for silence, Mr.
sheriff Stevens drawing his (word, all the officers along
the line doing the fame, he proceeded to read the pro
clamation, at the conclusion of which, as soon as he
pronounced aloud God save the Bate, he sheathed his
(word, the officers along the line following his exam
ple ; three huzzas were then given by the line and a
great number of Ipeftators: immediately after which a
a feu de joie was fired, beginning on the right cf the
line by the continentals, and continued along by the
militia, after which three huzzas, then a general vol
ley of mufquetry from the whole line with three huzzas,
the music playing. The line of march from the right,
with drums beating, was then formed, and proceeded
with music playing to the front of colonel Moultrie's
house on the bay, where a feu de joie, and general vol
ley of mufquetry was fired from the whole line.
In the evening a general and splendid illumination
was made throughout the city ; soon after which the
citizens, in consequence of a polite and attentive invi
tation from his excellency the governor, bad the ho
nor and happiness of congratulating him and each other
on the pleating occasion, and of partaking with his ex
cellency the sincere g ass o al! the blessings of peace to
the United States.
Ip his attention to the citizens his excellency was
not unmindful of the ladies, for whose amusement a
band of music had been coliefted in the council cham
ber : the hadnef of the evening prevented their at
tendance ; at ight o'clock an anthem, suitable to the
occasion, was performed; after which the citizens re
tired to their refpeHive homes, to drink ptofperity and
union to the Thirteen States.
Friday's address to the lord lieutenant, from the
corporation of the city of Dublin, affords an inflance
of such dignified love and refped, as Bands unexam
pled io the annals of Ireland, that of a free people
earnestly exprtffir,g their anxious hopes and wishes of
their viceioy's remaining in his government. His ex
cellency's answer seems a true index of his heart and
mind; breathing out all that candour, honesty, and
open ingenioufoefs, which so evidently have charac
terised every part of his conduit in the government of
this kingdom.
Thougn by the last advices from Bourdeaux we
learn, that there are aHually fifty vessels taking in
goods there for America, yet our merchants need not
be alarmed thereat, for the articles Blipping there are
not tne fame as what are going from hence, except
trifling quantities, the French exports thither consist
ing chiefly of wine, brandy, paper, silk flockings.
Corks, brimflone, faltpetre, earthen ware, glass, vi
negar, upholstery, cambrics, canvas, sailcloth, fu^
perfine woollens and Eaft-lndia goods.
There is well founded expedations that the vessels
now loading here f^r America will come to a good
market, especially as no vessels with assorted cargoes
can fail from the ports of Britain to them of the Uni
ted States until the prohibitory alts are repealed -
which alls being of the British legislature don't affed
this kingdom.
The meeting of our parliament next month, Is a
fhtafure of the most absolute necessity, on account of
the necessary alteration of the trade laws, particular
ly in the plantation laws, which enad, that no pro
duce of America (ball be landed in this kingdom, but
from Btjtifh vessels; thus no vessel belonging to the
Unit d States of America, can legally difeharge her
cargo here. Repeated applications have been made
to the minirtry in London to call a meeting of our
parliament, to which they have hitherto given no an
swer, but a mortifying silence.
American News.