The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-06-13 00:00:00, page 3

A national prejudice ex'fts in this province against
the French. The reason of it is unanswerable to the
Vulgar. They speak different languages. The popu
lace therefore confider them as dutlandifh and barbar
ous, and conceive a contempt for them, which is the
more immoveable, as it is the child of stupidity and
ignorance. Injury in no excels, can wean these pro
vincials from their attachment to Britain. They natu
rally incline to be hen-pecked, and would have a Xan
tippe rather than no wife. The English caninfult them
in their own language; the French cannot. Custom
hath familiarised dependence, and the arrogance of an
imperious mistress to them. They even hone after the
discipline. This can only touch them. To benefits
they are callous.
The more enlightened among the rebels, forefee that
Britain, in case of success, will compel these provinces
to repay the enormous sums of money, expended by
her during the war. They forefee also, that if Britain
could tempt them, by the allurements of present peace
and independence, to break faith with the French, that
indignation would lead the latter, either to divide the
spoil with Britain, ®r to desert the provinces to their
fate on any future occasion. Imbecility they know,
can easily give offence to exasperated power. But al
though these things are well understood by a few, yet
the bulk of this infatuated people, have happily, im
bibed a fixed suspicion and distrust, againf lthofe who
only possess ability to advise them, which hath so closed
up the avenues to conviftion, that an assertion of a
felfevident proportion on the one fide, invariably pro
duces doubt on the other
I have (during my fix years residence in this province)
turned all these dispositions of the people (either by my
felf or my agents) to account, working on each indivi
dual according to iris character. I have bribed them,
not with money, but with their own passions, preju
dices, and inactivity, to undermine an edifice, whilst
they were admiring its beauty. I have taught indivi
duals, who were even friends to the government, that
the only way to gratify their love of popularity, was
to complain of taxes (yet so inconsiderable as Hmofl to
be ideal) and to criminate every public measure, and
able flatefman. They have not fu btilty enough to dis
cover, that whilst they are rearing a snort ived honour
for themselves, they are ruining them country. Nor
have they fufficient skill in the science of liberty todif
tinguifh between a cooflitutional correction of defers,
by which government is supported, and a rio'ous op
pofiton to public measures, by which it is overfet# They
are forever reforming, without under standing the mif
chief; and whilst they reform, they destroy. They
condemn all the measures of government even unheard,
and thus fix prejudices againfl the government itf p lf.
DifaffeCtion is easily transferred from effeHs to causes
They will Shortly attribute the ill success of a confuta
tion which was really well conceived, not to its want
of support, but to some defeat in the constitution itfelf.
To such citizens, all constitutions which gave them
liberty would be alike; they are only to be lashed
into their duty. You will fee by my accounts,
that little money hath been expended in bribes. Why
should I buy treason againfl the established govern
ment, when it is the national charaCteriftic? Almost
every man is a traitor, and yet he does not know it.
J have been so long accuHomed, in order to conceal
my real character, to talk in the stile of rebellion, that
I have caught its idiom, for which I hope your lord
flip will excuse me the more especially, as it is the best
stile ter convey to your lordship, a thorough knowledge
of the national character of the Virginians. It cannot
be comprised in fewer words than by likening it to a
cradle, which lulls them into a kind of political sleep,
wherein they are perpetually flatting, tossing and
dreaming, but from which they are to be awakened on
ly by a violent shock. Need I make an application of
this temper ? Your lordship's own profound judgment
will at a glance difeover, how easy it will be, by mak
ing these peop'e dream of Heaven,to lead them into hell.
I have the honour to be, my lord, your lordship's most
obedient servant. ,
N E W-Y O R K, June 6.
By his majesty's sloop of war the Fury, captain W.
Sidney Smith, we have received the following par
ticular detail of the engagements between the French
and English fleets in the Weft Indies. The follow,
ing will be found to agree with the official account
dispatched to England after the adions.
From on board the Formidable, April 16, 1782.
An account of re two engagements between t e Bri
tish fleet, commanded by admiral fir George Bryd
ges Rodney, and that of France, under the command
of the compte de Graffe, off the islands of Guada
loupe and Dominique.
TII E French fleet, confining of 34 fail of the line,
having on board all the troops (nearly 6000)
that could be spared from the garrisons of their
windward islands, with about 30 fail of their trade and
Bore-ships, under the command of the compte de
Graffe, Hole out of Fort Royal bay, Martinique, at
day break of the Bth instant, which being soon com
municated to us, at Gross-Islet, St. Lucia by our
cruizers that were stationed on the look- out, fir George
Rodney put to sea immediately thereon, witn 36 fail
of the line, leaving the Shrewsbury and Intrepid, who
were considered as cripples, behind; and in a few
hours after we got fight of the rear of the enemy's flet.
A general c ace occasioned our ships to gain on them
faft, but night coming on, it was judged best to col
left our fleet, and proceed in greater order.
We fetched under Dominique about 10 P. M. when
we difeovered our near approach on the main body of
the French ships; and at three in the morning brought
too for day-light, which opened to our view the who e
of the enemy, who, unfortunately for us, by their
carrying fail, had got through the calms and eddy
winds, that always prevail under the high land— but
we having flill the true breeze, our line a-head was
soon formed, which however became broken.as the van
fftips reached the spot above-mentioned. During this
period the French made several tacks in the paffade
between Guadaloupe and Dominique, thereby effect
ing the escape of their convoy, which made off under
the lee of Guadaloupe.
Sir George Rodney now made the signal for the or
der of faring, keeping the fleet under their three top
frils and f re-fails that night, and by fianding towards
Dominique, we caught the S. E. trade, and at day
break had the great fati faftion of finding ourselves to
windward of most of the French ships.
The line a-head, at two cables length ufunder, on
the starboard tack, was presently formed, and rear
admiral Drake's division being put in the Ration of fir
Samuel Hood's, by reason of the galls it had received
in the late adion, the Marlborough became the leader,
looking up for toe second ihip a-head of the French ad
miral, and commenced the attack on the enemy (who
had formed their line to receive us to leeward, on
the opposite or larboard tack at three quartern past
seven in the morning of the 12th of April.
There being a pretty bulk breeze, the ships soon
closed with each other, and the conflift was furious on
both sides, our commanders and men ading their parts
to admir tion ; ,there was no refilling the tremendous
and well directed fire of the center of the admiral's di
v.fiou:compofed of 3 90 gun ships: the French actually
seemed panic flruck at it ; some of their ships passing
so near as almost to lock our yards, without the power
of firing a gun at us, or if they did, it was so poorly
directed as scarcely to do us any mifehief. One of
those having received the Formidable and Namur's
broadsides, upon what she had got before, took her
leave of the water's furface, without a foul being sav
ed, to give the hiflory of her deplorable fate.
Our commander in chief, to whose undaunted courage
and resolution his country mud be forever indebted,
as well as to his meritorious and most judicious assist
ant, Hr Charles Douglas, feeing of how much conse
quence it would be to force the Frencn line, was him
felf the sirs lto perform this gallant undertaking, in the
Formidable, whicn ne carried into effea about five mi
nutes after nine o'clock, and this afforded an opportu
nity, not only so himfelf, but to the ships tnat follow
ed, of doing intredib e execution, on that part of the
French line whic^ was broken, which was thrown into
the greatert coutuiion to leeward of us, each ship mak
ing off before the wind, with every rag of fail Ihe could
set our -ips were also pretty severely handled, in
their mans, rigging, and fans; and it therefore took
much time to put them into the proper slate, in order
th secure the advantages they had so gloriously obtain
ed.
As our ships freed themselves of the eddies, they a
gain formed the line, but the van, fir Samuel Hood's
division, had not all taken their flations before the
French admiral, who was on the opposite (i. e. larboard)
tack, bore up with his whole force, began their a&ion
at the usual distance, and pressed hard upon our head
mod ships, making it a most vexatious business to our
commander in chief, who was still becalmed in the
Formidable, as were the flernmoft of the center, and e
very one of the rear division.
The firing on the van, whole commander fir Samuel
Hood, sustained it with the utmost bravery, and made
an excellent return to every shot the enemy directed
at his ships, lasted for three hours and forty minutes.
In this action only part of the center division (to the
second a-stern of the Formidable) were engaged, and
these not longer than twenty minutes ; at the expira
tion of which, by the Royal Oak, captain Burnett, the
leader, and the Montague, having been much disabled,
fell out of the line, and the rear of our fleet, with part
of the center, making in all 16 fail, remaining becalm
ed, without the least possibility of bringing them into
adion; as the enemy were cautious in preserving the
weather gage, our admiral thought it necessary to dis
continue so unequal a combat; upon which the enemy
hauled their wind, and continued plying to windward
the next and the following day, whilst we could make
but little progress toward them ; but having tolerably
repaired our damages on the 11th, a general chace was
given on two of their leewardmoft ships, which had its
desired effed, by bringing the whole of the French
fleet down to their protection.
Many of our fllips.yards and topmafis were shot away,
arid others had their fails flripped from them by the hor
rid and unfair implements toe French made life of in
the action—such as bars of iron, pieces of broken shells,
and every other species of langerage.
However the van ships, and those of the cen er and
rear again fetched up with the enemy, and renewed
fheir fire on them: one of their ships, the Glorieux of
74 guns, that had been difmafted in the a&ion, was ta
ken possession of soon after ; a second, the Ctefar of 74
guns, Hruck to the Centaur; a third, the Hedor, a 74
gun ship, to the CanadYand Alcide; and a fourth, was
the Ardent, (formerly our own) who hauled lie col
our down to the Belliqueux and PrinceWifliam Henry,
as they refpedively came *up with them, making little
or no oppofiticin.
The signal for the line being now hauled down, it
was the duty of each ship to pursue the enemy as Ihe
best could ; but as the wind had greatly abated, and in
many spots fallen into a Hark calm, it consequently
took some time to overtake the flying enemy, who was
complexly routed 011 all sides.
The Ville de Paris, the compte de Graffe's ship, a ft id
rate, of no guns, being also Overtaken, just as the fun
had quitted the horizon, she gave up the cohteft in like
manner.
The remaining ships of the vanquished foe were at a
difiance—thofe of our fleet were much intermingled or
greatly extended and removed from each other—so that
any further pursuit would certainly have been precari
ous, and would have been such, perhaps, every thing
considered, as might not have been productive of any
good confequencm An action, in thenight time with
ships which must irregularly have come up with the en
emy, who had gathered together in a body, of up
wards of 20 heavy line of battle ships, might have prov
ed fatal to themselves ; and it must inevitably have oc
casioned the dispersion of our fleet, which, for the most
important reasons, ought at this juncture 'to be colled
ed and kept together as much as possible, which our
illustrious commander in chief most wifely forfaw, and
accordingly put an end to the battle, loon after the
French admiral flruck to the British flag.
First Division.
Le Soveraigne, 74
Le Hercule, 74
Le Auguste, 80
Le Northumberland, 74
Second Division.
Le Zele, 74
Le Conquerant, 74
Le due de Burgoyne, 84
Le Marfellois, 74
Third Division
Le Heßor,* 74
Le Magnanime, 74
Le Csefar,* 74
Le Diademe,* 74
Fourth Division.
Le Glorieux,* 74
Le Sceptre, 74
Le Eville, 64
Fifth Division.
Le Languedoc, 90
Conclusion of a letter from on board the Barfleur, fie
Samvel Hood's ship, May 10, off Cape Francois.
" Early on the 19th five fail of French ships were
seen going down the Mona, viz. the Caton and Jason,
each 64 guris, L'Amible frigate of 32 gun#, the Ceres
(formerly British of 26 guns) were taken, but L'AHrae,
of 40 guns, escaped ; four fail of shattered French ships
got into Coracoa ; the rest of their beaten and Hying
fleet are arrived at Cape Francois, where fir Samuel
Hood is cruizing in three divisions to secure if possi
ble the above-mentioned ships Which may attempt
to join at the Cape, and sixty-three fail of Dutchmen,
convoyed by two ships of the line for Europe.
“ Sir Samuel Hood is off Cape Tiberon with two
other divisions under admiral Drake and commodore
Affleck; the latter off Cape Nicola. A squadron from
Jamaica was seen to join fir Samuel Hood.——There
were in Cape Francois, 16 fail of Spanish and 26 fail of
French line of battle ships; the latter from the Car
ribean sea, also -32,000 troops, which had been col.
leded at three of the principal ports of the island, all
intended against Jamaica, but the whole dispersed di
re&ly after the catastrophe of the compte de Graffe
was known there. ---Captain Smith left fir Samuel
Hood off Hifpariiola the 17th of May.
Those with this mark* were either taken ordeftroy
ed by the British fieeet.,
Philadelphia, June 13.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman at Newark, New-
Jersey, to his friend in this city, dated June 4, 1782!
66 There is nothing new in this quarter, except cap
tain Pierre Depeyrier (that lived and Second-river) be
ing taken up the 29th ult. for a spy : he was taken by
colonel Ogden, and is now under guard in the Jersey
camp, between Bottle-Flhl and Morristown. One of
Codmus's sons, (I believe for the fame crime) was tak
en the fame day, and lent under guard to Head Quar
ters, at Weft-Point, where it js expected they will share
the merit due to their crime."
Extras of a letter from Edenton, May 30, 1782.
“ The privateer Dolphin, belonging to Mr. James
Wakefield, has taken a packet from New. York; the
mail is now in town, I have seen the box, it is direHed
toa let of vagabonds, viz. To the right honourable
the lords Corhmiffioners of trade for the plantations in
America ; also many other letters to fir Henry Clinton,
knight of the bath, and to many more of his flamp.
Mr. Wakefield will fend on the mail with the other
letters to Congress ; we have them in fate possession.
They go from hence Unopened, that nothing may trans-•
pire, before Congress have it published by order."
^'^.^^^ ^
For Sale, Very Cheap,
Two Virginia bred Hories,
The one a large bay, a most excellent riding horse, but
he is homely, and almoftnine years old; the price on
ly 50 1. The other a likely sorrel, draws well in a cha
riot ur single chair, and makes a very good portmanteau
horse; being hardy and trots well, he is fix years old;
the price also 50 1. Both are healthy and free from any
fault: the two may by t^ken for 96 1. Enquire of the
Printer.
TO BE SOL D,
The Half of a good Shallop,
that will carry about 350 barrels, with every thing be
longing thereto, and ail in good order. . For te r ms ap
ply to GEORGE GARLAND or
June iz. RICHARD THOMPSON.
The French Lan ^ua^e
Taught in the best and approved manner,
Also,. Arithmetic, Mathematics, and Roman Music,
By Maurice Defdevens,
Notary and Surveyor from Canada.
At his house in Spruce-freer, the fourth door east
from Second street. Hs name is on the window
fhutter.
Who cm do any writings, translations, &c. both"
in French and English
He has lo g ng and boarding for fix gentlemen.
il-s for fT a large ^nd handsome GRAPHOME
TRE, divided into degrees and minutes.
N. B. II peut egaiement Enftigner la langue Aan
glaife.
WA N T E 5; A
Sober, Careful Person, capable
of attending a Young Child, and who can be well re
commended. Any one so qualified will meet with good)
encouragement. Apply to & Printer. June x%.
FRENCH LINE. ,
74
74
84
74
Le Ville de Paris," 21®
Le Couronne, 84
Le Refleche, 64
Sixth Division:
Le Scipion, 74
Le Palmier, x 74
Seventh Divifioi. ,
Le Jason, 6@
Le Citoyne; 74
Le Deflin, 74.
Le Dauphin Royal, 74
Eighth Division:
L'Ardent,* 64
Le Neptune, 90
Le Triumphant, 84
Le Magnifique, , 74
. Ninth Division.
Le Caton,* 64
Le Burgoyne, 74
Le Brave, 74
Le Pluton 74