The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-03-21 00:00:00, page 2

LONDON.
HOUS E OF C 0 M M 0 N S.
Friday, December 17.
RE ADa fecund time and committed the bill for the
encouragement of the Irish trade.
Sir Charles Cocks moved, in Committee, the estimates of
the ordnance, amounting to 1,040,0001 which he observed
was 132 000 l more than last ye 4 r. He said, that a very
great ordnance estimate was supplemental to the very great
army voted, as it could not be employed without a pro
portionable train of artillery,ftores, &c. He could assure
&e House. he fnd, that after all the blues of artillery and
st ores which had been made in the prosecution of the war,
the stores were now fuller than ever they were before; and
io ail the purchases which had been made by the Ordnance
Board tbe> had been done as cheaply as was confident
with t r ',e public being well served. He adverted to the state
of Plymouth, and said, he could not conceive upon what
ground reports had been so generally spread concern 0g the
illftite of tuat fortrefs; they wore void of all foundation;
he had the must authentic information in his hand, rela
tive to the flute of the place at the time of the combined
fleets being off that port; and could prove to the House,
that it abounded in stores of all kinds. It had been ob
j fled t.iat wheelbarrows had been fest down in wag
gons -'the f. % a of which was, that intrenching tools were
to^'fent, anl they were dispatched in the ordnance
wagons, drawn by their own horses, and their own dri
vers without any expence tothepubhe. He then enter
ed into his detail of 137,000!. for arms, ammunition and
t^nts ; 150,000 b for brass and iron ordnance; for
tranfoorts :7,00c! upen which head he observed, that in
the last war that service was provided for ia the navy
efti^ates, but its being now put in those of the ordnance,
necHhrilv (welled the account, thata great reform had
been made in it, for instead of smaller ships, which usually
were employed, they now took up none that were less than
an eight-and twenty gun frigate; they carried twenty
fix guns, end weremmned in such a manner, that they
performed the office of convoys; that the good erie& of
this was (olgreat, that not ome of their traofports had been
taken except the Adventure, since the new regulation had
taken'place. That above 30, 0001. of the estimates was
farther to be accounted for by a ship taken under a mis
tak% which proved afterwards to belong to the Empress
Queen loaded with falt-petre; for which fatisfaOion was
made to the Court cf Vienna, to the amount of 35,0001.
That' 600&I. was incurred by building a new ftore-hoafe
in the Tower; 40,00 c!. having been applied to it before ;
also that enlarging the Park and Warren at Woolwich had
occafioced an expence of 5 0,0001. Having gone through
these federal Services, he concluded with obfeeving, that
the public stores never were so well filled as at this mo
ment, and that the Rate cf defence in this country, as far
as depended on the Board, wasin all its parts complete.
Captain Minchin rose to the point of Plymouth, and
nearly detried every thing the Hon. Baronet had asserted,
except the plenty of cannon, which lie readily admitted,
for, they amounted to eight guns per man. He said,
that the platforms upon which some of the batteries
were mounted, were so rotten, as to be utterly unable to
support the working the guns ; they would have funk in
to rhe earth, and no force, in the moment of attack, could
have raised them;—that the hulk which was deemed ne
cessary f< r thedefence of Hamoaze, actually had not a
gun on board her, aad they were putting them into her
wren the enemy were in fight ;—that not a regiment bad
any field pieces. Readmitted that there were 30 rounds
of ball, but that they would not go into the muzzles of
the guns they were intended for ; he was likewise inform
ed, that in the arsenal, there were a thousand barrels of
powder in a magazine not bomb proof :—He muff, how
ever, con fe fa, that he did not credit this quantity of pow
der, because it was a fad that the Ordnance sent down
immediately too waggons, a great part of which certain
ly contained powder, from the care and attention used 5a
the journey in having,hem fafely placed. He further ob
served, that during the last war, Plymouth had always a
garrifod of 5000 men, but when the combined fleets were
off tuat place, there were only 3,700 men^ xooa of which
were a Highland regiment, so lately raised, and so in
co^pletely 'difciphned, that they were not allowed to fire
with powdtr. , , „
Mr. T Townfhend said, that as it seemed to be allow
ed, teat the state of Plymouth ought to be enquired into,
he'fhould fwppofe it would formally be brought before Par
liament, as inch enquiries were now peculiarly neceffery.
He observed, upon the estimate, that it was something ex
traordinary there fliould be 30001. charged in them for
Dominica, and loooh for Senegal, as if the expence was
to remain, after the benefit and possession were gone. That
the charge of an augmentation of the artillery might have
been ddfrnfed with, as he was informed by military per
sons, that draughts might be made from the militia for the
purpose, which would ado have the good erfed of fpread
through the kingdom men able to work great guns,
which in the hour of danger might have important effed.
A to the want of ceconomy in the Ordnance Office, he
did not mean the least reflection on the two noble Lords
at the head of it ; there never was less occasion for such
reunion, as the head of it had given up his 61. a day,
and 13 waggons to the public service, and the other 4 1.
a day and fixwaggons, which shewed the, were animated
with a true love of their country in toe hour of its difhefs.
He then touched upon the state of the nation, rffpecUng
ber want of allies, and laid he was clearly of opinion, that
while France and Spain were unattacked upon the Conti
nent, they would have it in their power to render them
selves superior to us at sea. Before he fat down he congra
tulatedthe house on the news which had that day arrived,
of taking a fort from the Spaniards in the Bay of Hondu=
ras the firfl fi#n of attack whieh the war had produced.
Sir Charles Frederick exculpated the Board relative to
the tranfaaions at Plymouth, confirming what Sir Charles
Socks had asserted.
Colonel Barre desired to be informed, what was the
quantity of powder in the kingdom, and its quality. He
>ut this on account of the undoubted fact, that Admiral
Carrington's powder was so bad that his balls would not
each D'Eftaing's fllips, while the French balls pierced En
lifh flips.. .
He also desired to know, if there was an ordnance debt
angina behind these estimates. He dated their enormity
comparing them with former periods, and, in particu
, % h the highest year of the last war, which they ex
reded by 37^000. He next asserted, that the eo^plainu
F I S H-K ILL, Mtrch %
We are informed that the following perfsns, at Rama
pough, were, en Saturday eight last, plundered of arti
cles to a confidernble value, by a gang of th^ loyal Refu
gees from New-York, viz. John Suffran, Esq ; Mr. Da
niel Green, late of New York ; and Mess. Arney Larou,
aud Henry Trapha, er.
A few days ago, a fmali party of our troops, ft^tioned
near the lines at Tarry Town, under the command of
Col. Badlatu , having been informed where Capt. Ogden,
anoted partisan cf the enemy, of Emerick's cerps, resi
ded—set off in the evening, and compleatly fvrprized
that gentlemen in bed ; having previously taken hid horse
out cf the liable and laddl-d him : They brought him off
undifeovered, though the enemy had their main picquet
about 100 yards distant. W hear he had his parole gi
ven him, in order to effect his exchange for Captain
Williams, who has for a long time been prisoner in New-
York.
V T R E N T 0 N, March 3.
By letters from Albany we have the following intelli
gence, which j believe may be depended upon. Some time
part Gen. Schuyler sent four runners thro' the woods into
Canada; when they got. to Montreal they found Col. But
ler, with a considerable number of Indians there, from
Niegara. Butler finding hi^filf unable to subsist them at
any rate, was obliged tocrofs the lake into Canada with
the greater part. The runners flaid examining matters
't:ll° the Commandant of Montreal got information of
their being there, and f nt to his Indians to deliver them
up to hur, as fpics, but they absolutely refused ; upon which
be p ended histroops, determining to take them, and dis
posed bis gagrifon accordingly.—They w#re met by a
party who filed ontlem, killed one, the other three escaped
by taght; not however without meeting feme of their
Chiefs who declared it was absolutely repugnant to their
withes—that they would cause the British to give them fa^
titfadicn for the killed as soon as it was in their power.
Tney further said, that they ware tired of the British. —
they had deceived them in assurances that " they should
be protested, and that A was out of the power of the A
merisans ever to hurt them :"—All which the event fal
fifrd Tneir habitations and subsistence totally destroyed,
and they forced to retire over the lakes for food, without
any prafpeft of gaining revenge or peace; but fliould
they not be supported they would betray them for fatis
fa&ion.
March 15. Cemmiffioners from the American and Bri
tifn armies met last week at Perth-Amboy, in order to
fettle a general cartel for the exchange of prifoneta. The
Commissioners on our fide are Major-General St. Clair
and Lieut. Colonels Hamilton and Carrington 3 On the
fide of the Britiflq Major-General Phillips and Lieut. Co
lonels Gordon and Norton.
of the small arms were universal ; that he was informed,
that in May 3778, when the French deliverd their refcript,
there were not 15,000 Hand of arms in the kingdom; all
which evils were owing to the American war, in which
our best arms had been sent away to be used against our
best friends, and the worst kept at home to ferveus against
our natural enemies. He said, that he had proof of the
Ordnance Board buying many of their stores at 20, 30, 40,
and 50 per cent, beyond their fair price. That means
ought to be used to get at the bottom of so fhameful an ex
penditure.
Sir Charles Frederick said, that there were many rea
sons for not declaring the quantity of powder, but that as
to its quality, it could not poflibly be bad; there were a
variety of proofs it was (objected to; people of knowledge
in the manufacture tried it on red hot plates, and farmed
an accurate judgment from the smoke, (wap, &c. that it
was afterwards fubjefted to trial in a machine, a brass
mortar, from which a brass ball, weighing 721 b, was
thrown with two ounces of powder. That he had seen
experiments tried upon powder from all parts of Europe,
and out of Europe, but none was found ever equal to our
our own. That as to Admiral Barrington's powder, it
had been two years in the Weft Indies, and it was a known
fa&, that a hot climate (polled it. He had known it
from the East-Indies come home with the ingredients
separated, and in strata, according to their fpecific gra
vity.
Mr. Strachy rose to explain the point of Mr. Barring
ton's powder, and read a letter from the Admiralty up
on the fubjed. The case with all the (hips Gome home,
and whole powder was examined, was this ; the Prince
of Wales was all Government ponder, but all in a lump,
the floor of the powder-room kept wet, and the pow
der never aired or Drifted ; the Boyne not examined ;
the St. Alban's ditto; the Isis out three years, and the
powder neither aired nor fluffed ; the Preston taken
in America, good; the Monmouth bad, from not air
ing.
N E W-H AV E N, March r.
The letter of marque, Blaze Cartle, co her passage from
the Weft Indies, to Boston, captur'd a (chooser, one of
Admiral Arbuthnot's fleet, that failed from New-York,
for Georgia, about the „th of December last, with 30
light-horse, and their riders on board, but meeting a vio
lent gale of wind, which separated the fleet, the fchooaer
loft all her horses but one, and received damage in her
marts, &c. The Blaze Castle after taking out 5 ciheersof
thelight borfe, quitted her, and she has fiace got into
New York, by accounts from thence.
The General Aifembly, have repealed the Tender Aft,
so called, and haveordcred 40,000 b to be emitted, on in
terest.
WHEREAS many of the purchasers of confiscated
eiiates, taking advantage of th? depreciation of
the money, have neglected to comply with the conditions
of sale, which were, the payment of ohe fourth of the pur
chase money in ten days, and the remainder in one month
from the time of sale, to the great injury of the State,
and the embarrassment of the Sales.
Resolved therefore, Thai previous to the signing any
deed the exad times of sale, and of payment, be inquired
into by a standing Committee of this Board, who are to
report thereof- And as all the days of payment are long
In C OUNCI L.
Philadelphia, Saturday, March 18, 1780.
expired, the Agents do no other Aft whatever, on any
pretence touching the part (ales, unless to certify the boun
daries, and the times of sale, and payment as aforefaid.
And that there may be as little delay as possible to the
purchasers;
Resolved, That the Vice President, General Lacey,
Mr. Thompson and Mr. Whitehill, or any three of them,
be a Committee for this purpose, to meet on this business,
at the Council Chamber every merging, from ten te eleven
o'clock, and the purchasers when they apply for their
deed, are directed to bring the original receipts.
Extra& from the Minutes,
T. MATLACK Secretary.
By His EXCELLENCY
JOSEPH REE D, Esq ;.
President, and the Supreme Executive Council of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A PROC L'A MATIO N,
WHEREAS the Congress ®f the United States
of America, by their Resolve of the Eleventh
day of this instant, March, did recommend the
the following words ;
“IT having pleased the righte us Governor of the
World, for the punishment of our manifold offences,
to permit the Sword of War (till to harrafs cur Country,
it becomes us to endeavour, by humbling ourselves before
Him, and turning from every evil way, te avert His an
gerand obtain his favour and Neffing : It is therefore
hereby recommended to the several States,
That WEDNESDAY the twenty-sixth day si
April next, be set apart and observed as a day of FAST-
I NG, HUMILIATION and PRAYER, that
we may with one heart and one voice implore the Sove
reign Lord of Heaven and earth to remember mercy ia
his judgments ; —to make us sincerely penitent for our
tranfgreffioas ; —to prepare us for deliverance, and to
remove the evils with which he hath been pleased to visit
us ; to banish vice and irreligion from among us, and
•tiablifh virtue and piety by his divine grace ;—to bless
all public Councils throughout the United States, giving
them wisdom, firmnefs and unanimity, and directing
them to the best measures for the public good ;—in blejs
the M&giflrates and people of every rank, and animate and
unite the hearts of all to promote the interejl of ihri? Coun
try ; _[o bless tht public defence, ipfpiring all Command
ers and Soldiers with magnanimity and perseverance, and
giving vigour and success to the military operations by
sea and land ; —to bless the illurtrious Sovereign, and the
nation in alliance with these States, and all who interest
themselves in the support of our rights and liberties ; —
to make that alliance of perpetual and extensive ufefulnefs
to those immediately concerned, and mankind in general;
to grant fruitful seasons, and to bless our tnduftry, trade
and manufactures ;— to bless all schools and femiaaries of
learning, a^d every means of inPru&ion and education ; te
cause wars to cease, and to efiablift peace among the
nations. , , ,
And it is further recommended, That servile labour and
recreations be forbidden on the said day."
WHEREFORE, as well in refpe& of .the said re
commendation of Congress, as from a due sense of the ne
cefiity of humbling ourselves before the great Governor
of the Universe, and imploring his protection and support.
W E do hereby earnestly recommend to the good people
of this Commonwealth, that the said Wednesday, thetwen
ty-fixth day of April next, be set apart and vbferved as
a day of Farting, Humiliation and Prayer, according to
the Gid Resolve.—And that they abftaia from all servile
labour and recreation on the said day.
GIVEN by order of the COUNCIL, under
the Hand of His Excelleeocy JOSEPH REED,
Efqnire, President, and the Seal of tue State, at
Philadelphia, this Eighteenth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred
and Eighty.
JOSEPH REED,
Attest. President.
TIMOTHY MATLACK, Secretary.
THAT Part .f the CARG O of the
Ship Golden Rose, which was condemned as prize
in the Court of Admiralty, is now ready for distribution.
The Agent or Agents duly authorifed by officers, sea
men, or others having right or Ihare therein, by being
on board the privateer brigantine Holker, at the time es
the above capture or otherwise, are hereby informed
thereof, that they may appear and make known within
three days from the date hereof, his or their authority to
a& as Agent or Agents for such perf®ns, agreeable to
law. MATTHEW CLARKSON, Marshal.
March 21, 1780.
4s+6§+++++++4+++< I ++++*
f@ be SO L D at Public Vendue,
On Saturday the 25th instant, at the Conti
nental Magazine of Provisions, on Bick
ley's Wharf, in this city,
SOME Beef, Fork, dryed Herrings. The
Sale to begin at Ten o'clock, and the
money to be paid on the Ipot.
Southwark, March Is, 1780.
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS
REWARD.
STRAYED AWAY on yesterday merning from
the place the lubfariber liveth on, two COWS, one
a very large red one, of the Lancaster breed, the other of
a middle size, dark colour, with several white spots, and
a star on her forehead ; both in good order, and with
calf. Whoever takes them up, and will deliver them to
me, (hall receive the above reward.
CARPENTER WHARTON.
WANTS A PLACE.
A WOMAN with a good breast of milk, who can
be well recommended. Enquire of the Printer.