The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-01-16 00:00:00, page 2

H E Ceres, Cook, from Liverpool for Archan
& ge', on the 13th ult. took an American vessel,
and sent her to Liverpool, where she is arrived, called
the Governor Johnston, Badu, from Bergen to Balti
more in Maryland, laden with fal'ana fail canvass.
June 16. A morning paper fays, that among those
who fell in the city last Thursday night, by the fire of
the military, was a man habitted shabbily, and in a
very dirty condition. Under his coarse flockings
were, however discovered silk ones, and in I is bosom
a picture set round with diamonds. Who this person
was has not yet been discovered. On the fame even
ing, while Newgate was in flames, another man, of
mean appearance, desired a publican in that neighbour
hood to supply the populace with whatever liquor they
might want, faying that he would come again and
discharge the demand. He accordingly ventured to
do so the day following; took from his pocket a hand
ful of bank notes, but paid the amount in guineas.
August 10. The Panther man of war arrived at
Portsmouth from Gibraltar, escaped the vigilance of
the Spanish squadron by pushing out in the night.
The Spanish packet which she took on her passage and
brought in with her, has a quantity of money on board.
Letters by the Lifbora mailadvife, that the Spaniards
have opened their batteries against Gibraltar, the En
glilh made a sally upon them, in which they repulsed
a strong party of the besiegers, many of whom were
put to the (word.
Don Joseph Salona, who commands the Spanilh
squadron which has lately joined monsieur Guichen
at Martinico, is the officer who in the lad war, while
captain of the Buon Confejo, of 60 guns, had that
desperate engagement off Cadiz, with an English ship
of 64 guns, (believed the Achilles) in which he loft his
leg, one eye, and had 160 men killed.
Aug. 15. The Hillfborough packet that failed from
Jamaica in April last, and was taken by fix American
privateers, is retaken by a Bermudas privateer, and
tarried into Bermudas; she had a great quantity of
fiver on board, when she was firft captured, but it is
said the privateers soon lightened her of that burthen.
This day the Prince of Wales's birth day was cele
brated at Windsor Castle in a very splendid manner,
when his royal highness attained the age of 18 years.
King Edward the sixth was the youngest sovereign
that ever swayed the English fceptre : that prince having,
been declared major, and fit for government, without
a regent, at fourteen years of age.
By an aft of parliament of the 25th of his late ma
jesty, every heir to the crown of Great Britain, is de
clared, as far as relates to the succession. to be major
at 18 : that is, in case of the reigning sovereign dying,
his hdr, having accomplished the age of 18 years,
fliould resume the reins of government without need
of a regent, which has often been attended with great
political difficulties—but during the life of the king,
the prince is not of age till he is twenty-one, nor can
he take a feat in the house of peers till he has fully at
tained it.
The following is a general view of the trials of the
rioters:
In London and Middlesex. In Southwark.
Tried in all - - 84 Tried in all - - 50
Found guilty - 34 Found guilty - 24
Respited - - 15 Respited - - 18
Executed - - - 19 Executed - - - 6
Acquitted - - 50 Acquitted ~ - 26
It is worthy of remark that of the several perlons,
male and female, executed on account of the late riots,
seventeen of them have been under 18 years of age,
and three of them not quite 15.
The fitting out warlike squadrons by the northern
powers, and the arrival of the Ruffian men of war in
our ports, presents a new sera in naval history. The
last time t e Ruffian fleet entered our ports, they
were suppliants for assistance and inftruflion in mari
time affairs: we furnifhed them with stores, and lent
them our officers, by which means we gave them the
firft hope of becoming a naval power. We have thus
warmed the frozen bear, who in return whets her tulks
against us.
A private letter received yesterday from Holland, by
the Dutch mail, fays, that there are thirty fail of ships
in the Texel, all read laden for sea, bound with stores
for France, and that they are only waiting the arrival
of some Ruffian men of war to convoy them there.
If the above account is really true, we may con
clude fays a correspondent, that the spirit and design
of the northern confederacy goes somewhat further than
seems consistent with that Arid neutrality, which those
powers pretend to adopt. In circuraftances like the
present, the protection of their own trade is all that
the law of nations will adjudge to any people ; and even
teat much, in particular cases, may appear problema
tical. But surely there can be no licence or authori
ty founded in the regulations hitherto established
among sovereign states, for any of them to assume a
right of protecting another in carrying on a commerce
to the prejudice of a third party. The moment there
fore, that Russia take the Dutch ships under convoy,
the may be considered as having virtually declared war
against Great-Britain.
DUBLIN, May 21. Friday evening the following
dreadful affair happened in the town of Drogheda :—
Being the fair day, two drunken soldiers attacked a
servant girl in Weft flreet, and began to use her with
great indecency, which a countryman observing,
knocked one of them down ; the other drew his sword,
and bounded the countryman in the head ; this so
exasperated the fpe&ators, that they beat the soldiers
severely, and obliged them to take shelter in their bar
rack: from whence immediately issued a ferjeant and
eight men, who marched to said street, and, whilfl the
volunteers were assembling to prevent further mifchief,
fired on the people, killed five on the spot, wounded
four more so desperately that they are since dead, and
two others are not expected to recover.—The offend
ers are secured and lodged in goal.
L O ND O N, June rrf
To the PEOPLE of VIRGINIA.
Friends, Countrymen and Brethren,
Wr HEN we made our firft efforts to rescue the li
berties ©f America from the fetters of arbitra
ry power, the VIRGINIANS flood foremoft in
the exerche of public virtue; the love of our country
seemed to predominate over every other paffon, and
military glory alone was the obj ft that fired the pride
of our ambition: wisdom prefixed over our measures,
and the damp of policy mark'd the determination of
our councils. Difficulties at length grew upon us,
and we have learnt to forget our duty • a flrmge de
generacy of manners, and a total fubverfon of prin
ciple has almost offufeate I the radiancy of our hopes.
For God fake my countrymen rouse from ycur lethar
gy, look into consequences, and return to your prihine
vigour. Pause but for a moment, and seriously ex
amine into the motives which influenced your former
conduft, and the reasons that directed and governed
your latter. Have you alrea ly forgot that we are
flrugglirg for the inestimable blessings of liberty, and
that we are Setting up a new empire in oppofitien th
the mod imperious power upon earth ? Have you for
got the inSults that were offered us by Great-Britain,
and the Solemn promise we made to each other when
we appealed to the sword for jurtice, “ that we would
die or be free in the Struggle !" Can you fuffer re
flexion to have the exereife of deliberate reason and
not feel a virtuous indignation at the ravages commit
ted by the enem; on our land • the cruelties indited
upon our inhabitants in their Solitary huts, and the
barbarities praftifed upon our Soldiers while they
were fighting for our Safety, and bleeding for our pro
perty ? I fay can these things be reflected.on and not
agitate the feelings of every generous mind ? Gratitude
and duty ought to Stimulate our actions to the accom
plilheot of that end which involves in it tne happiness
of every persecuted son of liberty. I mean the inde
pendence of America.
There is a dignity in the foul of man, which, when
interwoven with the intcreft of his country, makes
him aft as if he was immortal: every power of his
mind seems heightened to a peculiar greatneSs, and all
his actions blaze with the refulgency of magnanimity
and patriotism The moment is near at hand when
we Shall all be tried to the very quick, and it a manly
and virtuous Spirit is not immediately cherished, the
bayonet will be in the bowels of our country before
we Shall have power to mark thermits of its vengeance.
From the deft and most authentick accounts we are
assured that the greater part of the Bridfh force will,
be turned the next campaign against Virginia, and
that every preparation is now on foot to make the con
quest of it (as they think) certain and inevitable.
Great God what a picture of dirtrefs would a conquest
of this country present to a sensible mind! Let us
suppose, by way of trying our feelings, that they
Should Succeed (deterted thought! was it possible, I
Should weep over it) what would be our hopes and
expectations ? A life of infamy dragged outin chains,
and rendered forever miserable by Severe and bitter
reflections: the epithet of rebel eternally crammed
down our throats by some haughty Scotchman or im
perious Briton ; and a confiscation of property,, the
pains of bondage, and the disgrace of the gibbet to
ornament the black catalogue of c-nfequences, would
attend our downfal. Virginians think of the danger
that threatens a bleeding country! Awake to public
virtue and Sleep no mere in the arms of indifference
and supineness.
A people Struggling for liberty, become always
the favourites of Heaven ; and though some have failed
in their attempts, it proceeded more from their aposta
sy than any powers their enemies had to conquer them.
The Dutch persevered through a war of twenty years
and upwards, maintained their independence against
the power of Spain, and broke the chain of tyranny
that had for Such a length of time fettered them to the
block of oppression. The people of Switzerland pof
feffd of an elevated notion of liberty, contended for
their rights, and fixed the Sovereignty of their inde
pendence against every attempt that could be made to
subdue them. If we look bek into more ancient
times we Shall view the free dates of Greece rising to
eminence and glory through a cloud of difficulties.
The Persian army terrible in numbers seemed to fix
their total ruin, but fate itfelf could not intimidate or
alarm them ; the brave Leonidas made a noble Sacrifice
of himfeif and 300 of his countrymen at Thermo
pylae, to convince the haughty Persians that men de
termined to be free would be so ; and although the
force of Xerxes appeared Sufficient to conquer and Sub
du the world, yet Such was the impression which the
valour of the Grecians made upon him, that h~ ab n
doned the expedition. In Rome patriotic zeal and
a flame of liberty direXed the actions of some of her
citizens to such deeds of glory that their names have
been handed down from age to age with all the gilded
ornaments of immortal fame.
We are now in a situation that has fixed upon us the
attention ,>f the whole world ; expectation Sets Argus
like with an hundred eyes to view our aftions, and
every misfortune proclaims aloud a negleft that must
stain us with dishonour-
Then my countrymen, let us learn to be great by
the example that is gone before us ; let us catch from
the Dutch, the Swiss, the Grecian, and the Roman
Spirit, a Spark of each excelling virtue and compound
a character of fortitude, resolution, firmnefs and mag
nanimity, to stem the torrent of our approaching dan
ger, and afferta freedom which we dare maintain.
HARTFOR D, December 18.
Messrs. PRINTERS,
The inserting the following in your next will oblige
a large number cf your customers.
O N the evening of the 26th ult. the infamous Trai
tor ARNOLD was carried through this town in
effigy : he made his appearance fitting on his coffin,
in a horse cart, hung round with several pair of splen
did UntUorns ; & behind the Traitor flood the Devil,
From the VIRGINIA GAZETTE, of Dec. 30; 1780.
TIMOTHY STANDFAST.
A few days ago the hoop Porpoise of la guns, and ami
armed barge, under the command of colonel John
Stewart, (who hath signalized bimfelf for his intrepidi
ty on various occasions) went down the Bay in quest
of the enemy's picaroons, which have long, with impure
nity, infefted Ch^fapeake. We have not yet obtained
the particulars of :ne colonel's operation: but we are
affared, that a small Privateer, belonging to New-York;
of 4 carriage and 6 swivel guns, hath been captured af
ter a sharp conflict by captain Revelly, and company,
whom the colonel detached, in the barge, to attack her,
as she lay in Shore, out of the reach of the Porpoise's
guns-,
Extract of a letter from St. Euftatius, dated Dec. 3d.
" I am informed by a gentleman, just arrived from
London, and who saw Mr. president Laurens, a few
days before he came away, that that gentleman was
confined very close to an apartment 12 feet square, in
which there was a centinel and a yeoman of the guard.
His black servant was allowed to attend him, none
others had been permitted to speak with him, except
his son and Mr. Mann.ng, in company with an officer,
for half an hour.
“ The Portuguese and English are not on the best
footing, the former having refufed commodore John,
flone leave to fir out some vessels at Lisbon.
“ The enemy's success at Camden had reached Lon
don. If we may judge from the late News-papers from
thence, the idea of subduing America, hardly exists;
though it appears more troops are going out - and it is
said fir H. Pallifer is to command the fleet at N. York."
“ We have letters from Holland as late as the firft of
November. Some people there think there is great
probability of a war, that is, if the confederacy of the
Northern Powers is firmly agreed tc.
“ The Experiment of 50 guns, and the Sybil of 36
guns, (French men of war) lately arrived here front
the French islands, with a fleet, and took back another
of 40 odd fail."
who Seemed however affirmed of so unprofitable a Ser
vant; the Tr, itor being drefs'd in uniform, pinioned,
and properly accoutred for the gallows, having made
the tour of the town, was brought under firong guard
to the place of execution, where, in the view of some
hundred Spectators, he was formally hanged, cut
down, and buried. The numerous populace, ex
prefs'd their universal contempt of the Traitor, by
the hissing, expfofion cf a multitude of Squibs and
crackers with which the, graced his exit- as well as
their joy at the timely discovery cf his hellish treason,
by ahe utiful illumination of the town. The whole
procession and execution, with al! things pertaining
to the exhibition were conducted with the greatest
decency and good order. Thirteen vollies were fired
by the guards and three cheers given by the people
in testimony of their joy that the dates were rid of the
Traitor, which closed the feene. On the bread of th©
Erai^r was fixed a label, expressive of his real cha
rafter -the junice of his condemnation ; and a bequelt
of his foul to the Devil. A label from the Devil's
mouth announced his acceptance of the bequefl, iu
regard to the Traitor's intentional Service- but oft
account of his motly performance, assigned him a
place below every Dvil of enterprize and principle.
New- Milford, October 31, 1780.
"Tis hoped the ever memorable 25th of Septem
ber, (the day when the blacked of Grimes was un
foldtd) will be observed yearly throughout the United
States of America, and handed down 10 the latest pof
terny, to the eternal disgrace of the TRA ITO R.
From Rivington's Royal Gazette, of Dec. 27.
Extract of a letter from on board of his majefly'a
Ship Egmont, at Jamaica.
" On the loth of Offober, we then laying at St.
Lucia, with four fail of the line, and three or four
fr gates, at the approaching of a hurricane, we and
another 74 gun ship, were obliged to cut our cables
and run to sea -the night following we loft our three
mails and bowsprit; after the eale was over, we rose
jury marts and bore away for Jamais, little ex
pecting to fee any other ships in the fame condition,
excepting any others belonging to the fame Ration
as curfelf, on account of our fappofin the hurricane
had not reached Jamaica; but when we arrived, we
found four fail of the line, one 50 gun ship, one 44,
and one frigate in the fame Rate as ourselves; tor
the gale reached as far as Bermudas, where- they
were difmafled. In this ifiand, with an earthquake
and an inundation of the sea, three towns were nearly
swallowed up, and about <SOO families perished ; the
Unicorn frigate, in rhe hurricane loft her mizenmaft,
and afterwards was taken and carried into Cape
Francois; I cannot give any account of the damage
Curtained among the flipping on the Ration we were
on, as we had not had any accounts from them, but
in my opinion they must have received a great deal of
damage likewise, for we left at St. Lucia, two 74 gua
ships, which by the # situation of ourselves, and the
time we cut away frem them, the ships we left behind
could not weather out the hurricane without going
on shore; the ship that cut away the fame time as we
did, has not bren heard of; in short, any others, ex
cepting one 44- gun fllip, that Foft her marts, which
arrived here two days after us,, and brought in tw®
French prizes, which she took the day after the hur
ricane, both difmafted, with French troops on board
to the amount of 250 men ; they were part of a con
voy of 60 fail of transports, with 12,000 men on board,
lately from Old France, and had only anchor'd im
Martinico twelve hours before the hurricane came
on, and were all blown out to sea again. The fame
time the Endymion (the name of the above mentioned
ship) took the two prizes, she was in the middle of
upwards of forty or fifty of them, all difmafted ; she
saw five fail founder close to her, all having troops on
board, likewise they were informed by the captain of
the French transport, that several more had found
ered ; the said troops we are informed were defined t@
retake St. Lucia from usy which we had timely intel
ligence of and were prepared for the reception of them>
when the hurricane came oa-"
BALTIMORE, January 9.