The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-01-28 00:00:00, page 3

face, was cast affiore at Nantucket, and about twenty
hands perilled.
It is also said, several other vessels are ashore at and near
Nantucket, but what damage they have sustained, we
have not learnt.
January 14. On Monday last arrived at Cape-Ann,
the privateer brig Bennington, of Newbury ; in her
cruize flie has taken a Ihip from Jamaica, laden with rum
and sugar; also a privateer schooner of twelve guns, and
feveral°other vessels. The Ihip arrived yesterday at Cape-
Ann.
Extract of a letter from Capt. W. Newman, dated Co
runna, in Spain, Oft. 4.
“ On the 16th of August I failed from Cape Ann in the
brig Vengeance, of 20 guns, belonging to Mr. Nathaniel
Tracy, John Tracy. .Capt. Thomas and Coffin Jones, of
Newbury Port, with an intention of falling in with a
Weft-India fleet, which failed much about the fame time
for England ; and accordingly on the 2d of September, in
lat. 41 : '3, long. 44, W. fell in with the above-menti
oned fleet, but was chafed out of it by two frigates for
about four hours, which could not come up with us.----
Four days after fell in again with the fame fleet ; at the
fame time saw a ship landing to the westward, I gave
chace to her and loft fight of the fleet, but night coming
on could not keep fight of her; and on the 1 7th ®f Sep
tember, lat. 49 N. and long. 20 W. fell in with the ship
Harriot Packet, of 16 guns and 45 men, C'apt. Sampson
Sprague, from Falmouth bound to New-York, which,af
ter a small resistance, ft ruck; and manned and ordered
her for Newbury Port; and on the 21st of ditto fell in
with the snow Eagle Packet, from New-York bound to
Falmouth, commanded by Edmund Spen e, mounting 14
carriage guns and 60 men, including some officers of the
British army, which, after an engagement of about 20
minutes, was obliged to strike to us, which I likewise or
dered for Newbury Port, having killed Col. Howard of
the firfl regiment of the guards, several officers, and a
number wounded. Lucky for me not a man killed or
wounded but myfelf, by a musket ball in my thigh, which
did not touch the bone, and am already so well that I can
walk very well with a cane. Among the passengers were
four Lieutenant-Colonels, three Majors, one Cornet of
Dragoons, &c. Having more prisoners on board than
my own number consisted of, my vessel excessive crank,
and net much provisions on board, I determined to go to
Bilboa in order to' get rid of my prisoners and refit my
vessel ; but on making Cape-Ortugal the wind came to the
eastward and blew very hard, which obliged me to put
into this port, where I have delivered my prisoners t® the
British Consul residing here, taking his receipt for the
fame, and obligation for the like number of American
prisoners of equal rank to be exchanged for them. I shall
refit and proceed on my cruize as soon as possible, and if
I take any thing which will suit your market, address
them to you, and most likely pay you a visit with my
vessel."
PHILADELPHIA, January 28.
Extract of a letter from Charles-Town, Jan. 5.
" About forty fail of the enemy, with about 3500 men,
arrived some time since, at Tibee, the entrance of the ri
ver Savannah .• After making the necessary preparations,
they proceeded, on the 29 ult. in two divisions up to
the town, which was defended as well as our situation
would admit ; they, however, obliged our brave fellows,
about 6 or 70% under General Howe, to give way, with
considerable loss, and to abandon the capital. Thus, with
tue invasion in the western parts of Georgia, are the ene.
ray in pofleffion of all the sea coast of that state, and will,
in a short time, have 5000 men to aft in conjunction
with another force against Carolina ; which, I suppose,
is their intention. Colonel Provost, from St. Augustine,
brought with him 1500 effective men, befidos Tories.
The following Resolve of Council was lately present
ed by his Excellency JOSEPH REED, Esq; to his
Excellency General WASHINGTON.
In COUNCIL, Philadelphia, January 18, 1779.
WHEREAS the wisest, freeft and bravest nations,
" in their molt virtuous times, have endeavoured to
perpetuate the memory of thole who have rendered their
country distinguished services, by preserving their re
semblances in statues and paintings. This Council,
deeply sensible how mueh the liberty, fafety and h^ppi
nefs of America in general, and of Pennsylvania in parti
cular, is owing to His Excellency General Washington
and the brave men under his command,
De refolroe, That His Excellency General Washington
be requeued to permit this Council to place his Portrait
in the Council Chamber, not only as a mark of the great
refpe& which they bear to His Excellency, but that the
contemplation of it may excite others to tread in the
fame glorious and disinterested steps, which lead to pub
lic happiness and private honor.
And that the President be desired to wait on His Ex
eellency the General with the above request, and, if
granted, to enquire when and where it will be most
agreeable to him for Mr. Peale to attend him.
Ta which His Excellency General IVASHINGTONwas
,leafed to return the following answer.
Gentlemen, Head Quarters, Pbilad. Jan. 20, 1770.
T 1 H E liberal testimony of approbation which you aid
4 me the honor of transmitting by the hands of His
Excellency the President, coming from so refpe&able an
Amenably, cannot but make the deeper impression on
my mind.
However conscious I am that your generous sensibility
attributes infinitely too much to me, my rcfpe& for you
leads me to acquiesce in your request, and gratefully to
subscribe myfelf, Gentlemen,
Tour much obliged, and
To his Excellency Joseph Most obedient fer^ant,
Reed, Est, President, G. WASHINGTON.
and the Council of Penn
fylvania. PubliJbed by order of Council,
, T. Matlack, Secretary.
On Sunday next CHARITY 8E RMONS will be
preached, in the morning at Christ-Church, and in
the afternoon at St. Peter's Church, in this city, for
the benefit of the poor belonging to those congregations.
N. B. Ladies and Gentleman who cannot conveniently
attend at Church, are requested to fend their donations
Samuel Powell, Esq; in Thi. i-street, or James
Reynolds, opposite the Coffie-houfe, in Front-street,
Church-Wardens for the present year.
To the PUBLIC
Honefly is the be, Policy.
T SHALL in this piece present the public with the letter
'I promised in my last from Mr. Holt's paper of January
11th. It needs no explanatory comment. And there is
no apology the writer can possibly make for his attrocious
conduct. Had the persons whom he mentions been legally
convicted of every crime which he has made and declared
them guilty of, the letter, even in that case, would show
a spirit of revenge that has never till now appeared in Ame
rica.
If Mr. Deane has said in his address of Dec. sth what he
cannot juftify, and fliould he be found to have done it from
a bad and revengeful principle, he must expert to fuffer
for it. But the writer of this letter, who appears to be an
intimate friend of his, has taken all his (Mr. Deane's) in
sinuations and assertions for fads, and, without hearing a
single evidence on the contrary fide, has called, in the most
furious manner, on the people to pass sentence of condem
nation. j
As the public has seen Mr. Deane's address of Dec. sth,
they can compare it with the description which this writer
gives of it. And that they may judge of the account he
likewise gives of Mr. Deane, they need only reeolleft th^t
the Congress when at York-Town last winter were so dif
fatisfied with his conduct that they recalled, and sent ano
ther gentleman to supersede him.
The reasons for his recal have not appeared, and are not
on the Journals of Congress, and Mr. Deane is principally
indebted for that favor to Col. R. H Lee, who strongly
opposed their being placed, there, not because they were
not true, but because Mr. Deane was an absent man, and
that it was both illegal and ungenerous to pass any thing
which implied a sentence on a man who was not personally
present. The public wi 1 now hear on what a contrary
spirit Mr. Deane and his partizans proceed, and what un
justifiable methods they have taken to inflame both the
town and the country. It is impossible that well meaning
men could aft such a part. An honest cause does not re
quire such supports; neither can a bad one be long Tup
ported by such ways and means. Every cause wherein
men can be engaged is accompanied with a spirit that is
consistent with it. Look on America from the beginning
of her opposition up to the present day, and fee how natu
rally her temper and conduct corresponded with her ob
jed and condition ; and in like manner look on the cause
of the enemy, namely, that of oppreßing and tyrannizing
over a whole people, and you will find it accompanied oa
their part by those kind of passions which are naturally
associated with such abandoned designs; rage, malice and
revenge. Carry this observation into any or all the cir
cumstances of private life and you will ever find it true,
moreor less ; because it is one of those kind of truths which
does not depend upon our choice or abilities to alter ; and
which, whether we think of it or not, or whether we will
or not, will sooner or later affeftually take place.
I am not writing purposely to defend any particular per
son or persons. I.et every man's conduct defend rtfelf.
Yet it is not natural in me to stand quietly by and fee the
characters of those who are not present to answer for them
selves, unjustly or unmercifully torn in pieces. There is
a tenderness due to the absent as well as to the dead; and
had either Mr. Arthur or William Lee or Col. R. H. Lee
been present, I fliould, so far as related to their persons,
been silent.
But the principal inducement to my taking the matter
up is that part of it which makes it a public measure; for
my opinion in a saw words is, that by railing a clamor
against the Lee's, a popular pretence would have been
formed for removing them, and then, by filling up the va
cancies with other persons, and getting Mr. Deane off
Ambassador to Holland,, a very extensive scheme of mono
polizing would have been carried on, to the injury of trade
in general ; and if any part of Mr. Deane's conduct abroad
or at home requires concealment, he would have found it
in the success of that attempt.
I now proceed to lay the letter before the public and
fliall leave them to judge what fort of measures they must
be that require such an incendiary spirit to accomplish them.
From Mr. Holt's Paper of January nth.
To the free and independent Inhabitants of the state of
New-York.
Friends and Fellow Citizens,
IH AVE often addrefled you, and have flat
tered myfelf sometimes with success. I now
find myfelf called upon by every tender tic to
you and my country, to endeavour rousing your
attention to the importance of the information
contained in Mr. Dean's address to the free and
virtuous Citizens of America, published in the
Pennsylvania packet, and re-published in Mr,
Loudon's packet of the 17th instant. Infor,
mation my fellow countrymen of the most inte
resting. nature, and such as has given me more
real concern than all the endeavours of the ene
my to subdue us, and I am confident to every
considerate mind, it must be equally effecting,
and must raise in the breast of every lover of
his country, an invincible indigation for those
men, who have been abusing the confidence
the Honourable the Congress have reposed in
them, by intruding them with your concerns
abroad. But before I fay more on this head, let
me call your attention to the quarter from
whence this information comes, Who is Mr.
Dean? He is, my friends, a man of tryed integrity,
abilities and veracity; and one, who the whole United
American States, by their Rebrefentatives in Congress,
have thought worthy of the Jigheft trust and confidence.
This then is the authority on which this most
important information is founded; he tells you,
your affairs abroad, are in part intruded to peo
ple who have betrayed you, and who continue
fro betray you; and the attempt of that notable
spy Doctor Berkenhout to impose on you, is a cir
cumstantial evidence of the truth of all the rest.
Mr. Dean has promised to acquaint you with
other matters, neceflary for you to know: I
doubt not, but his love to his injured country
will Simulate him to a full difeovery ; and that
not only you, my fellow citizens, but the free
and virtuous citizens of every State, to whom he
lias addrefled himfelf, will unite in detecting and
expofing,not only this, but every other combina
tion against the true interest of this country.?"^
will olfrve that Mr. Dean writes with modesty, mode
ration and temper, paying the greatest reflect to Con
gress, as the colletted and united voice of the good people
of theft States, and confequenty to the servants of Con
grejs, fofar as their conduN merits such ref,ell.
Congress, as the respective body ofthe United
American States, most undoubtely claims your
highest refpe& and veneration ; but you must be
too well acquainted with human nature, to ex
pert that every member is virtuous, or proof
against temptation, Jealousy of those in power
is very neceflary, nay, infeperable to freedom ;
and however neglected it has been, believe me,
you cannot too often, by your representatives
in Assembly, &c. inftruft your Delegates in Con s
grefi. Every virtuous member will receive your
inftrudions with pleasure. Treachery and de
ceit in the servants of the public, Should be ex
posed to public view ; and never, in my opinion,
have you had greater occasion than the present,
to inftrud your delegates, to endeavour to have
the condu<% of the servants of the public abroad,
Scrutinized.
If we may believe the evidence of Mr. Deane,
such a feene of villainy would be difclofcd, as
would strike every honest man with horror. And
while you, my friends, are rifting life, property,
nay every thing that is near and dear to you:
your servants are betraying you to their own e
molument, to what a degree of infamy ought such
men to be consigned, your danger from such is
inconceivably gteat, and nothing but the inter
position of the Almighty could have saved you
thus long. It is therefore a duty you owe to
yourselves and peflerity, to take the alarm and
guard effectually against all traitors, let merit
with known and trye'd attachment to the great
cause of American freedom and independence,
be the recommendation of all public servants ; and
not baneful family influence. I write without
prejudice, for 1 can fay with confidence I know
not the family nor their connexions ; butas Mr.
Deane has, boldly in the face of part of that fa
mily, published those stubborn fadis; no farther
evidence can be neceiTary.to alarm the apprehen
sions of every virtuous American, and (hew them
the impropriety and danger, of trusting too much
to one family—That Arthur Lee kept his Secre
tary passing to and from London, while the treaty
was negociating between France and America; is
a proof that the British ministry received their
early intelligence from that quarter: That the
fame DoX. Berkenhout, who was in the confi
dence ®f Mr. Lee in France, 'hould endeavour
to be in confidence of Mr. Lee's brother in Con
gress, and who Mr. A. Lee acknowledged to his
brother Commissioner, was in the confidence of
the British ministry, proves that Mr. Lee ? s reluc
tance to agree to the treaty with France, proceed
ed from his attachment to the interest of Britain,
add to this, that William Lee was from February
1777, the time Mr. Deane received notice of his
appointment, to December the fame year, before
he thought proper to aft for you, in all which
time your affairs Were fuffering irreparaly, this
considered, and putting confidencein Mr. Deane's
information, it is evident to demonstration, that
those men who were intrufted with your business
and your secrets were really and truly in the con
fidence and interest of your enemies, and that A
merica, might with as much propriety, have sent
Lord Shelburn or Lord North, their Commissio
ners to France, &c. as either of the Mr. Lee's,
had their attachments been known. I need not,
I hope, remind our sister States of the necessity
of paying a proper attention to Mr Deane's pub
lication; I believe their own wisdom will point it
out to them, and that every State will instruct
their Delegates to endeaveur to have this dark
business exposed to public view, and recommend
servants in future, so the notice of Congress,
whose merit, attachment and abilities are un
doubted. I have omitted remarking on every
particular of the address, because I would re
commend to this and every other State, to have
that and all the rest of Mr. Deane's publications
on this head, printed and dispersed for the infor
mation of the inhabitants, and people at large.
Orange County, December 31, 1778. W. D.
Will anyman step forward and own this letter? ttis,
I believe, needless to go to Orange county for a know
ledge of the author. The charges in it are either true or
falfe: if true, let th^ writer be known, that he may prove
them; if not true, let him likewise be known, least his
concealment should sub est innocent persons to suspicion.
He who will by honest and juftifiable means ffifi in de
testing public abuses, wherever they can be found, is a
ufeful character; but an anonymous detractor is the ser
pent of society. COMMON SENSE.
Philadelphia, January 27./
Mr. Holt is requested to puUj/h this in his paper,
Mr. Loudon the fame.