The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-01-22 00:00:00, page 2

'Mr. P RIN T^ R,
I beg you will give the following Extract from a
late English Paper, a Place in Vour's. It may serve
to correa (among us) a Fault which too many Peo
ple are guilty of in the Course of social Conversation ;
anon^y ihew now little real Benefit is derived from
a Difeuffion of such disagreeable Subjects, which all
must allow are not proper for mixed Companies.
- I am, Sir, Your's,
PROPRIETY.
" O UT what I have more particularly in view in
fr) this epiflle, is to reprehend that unaccountable
proprnfity which is in the English nation, to
converse upon physical and chyrurgical fubjeas. You
shall hardly ever be in company, where, after the sub;
jefls of religion and politicks have been dismissed, that
of phyfick is not introduced. Let a circle of
friends, possessed of common Health, surrounded
with every blessing of life, and met together, perhaps,
for the purposes of social converse, and agreeable re
laxtion, fbould take delight in communicating a detail
of their pad disorders, or present Fears, is one of the
flrangefl things in the world. This condua is the
more to be wondered at, as it has long been taken no
.- tice of, and ridiculed by Foreigners, and severely cen
sured by fume of our best writers. Mr. Addison has
ahumber of papers upon this fubjea, which should be
read and wlldigefted by. persons who are given to this
disagreeable and unmannerly style of conversation. In
the name of goodness, if people are really ill, let them
betake to their chambers, fend for their physicians, and
live upon poffet drink : but let them not trouble their
friends who are in health, with a circumstantial ac
count of their fevers and fore, throats, swelled legs and
watery eyes, and ail the dismal etceteras which fill up
the catalogue of human Woes.
I went a few da s fin e, by invitation, to dine with
afi'nd at a snug box a few miles from town. We
were about eighteen in company, maids and batche
fors, wives and widows, old and young, handsome and
ugly. Decentmirth and noffenfive wit were our at
tendants, during an excellent repast, and for fame time
after the cloth was removed, till half an hour's con
versation upon the cursed politics of the times call a
gloom over our features, and prepared us for what was
quickly to so low. When the clock flruck five, the
lady of the house rang the bell, and enquired if the
apothecary had sent in her bark draught? "Ohla !
ma'am (cries a fat lady next her) what a'ant you
well?" Not very bad, ma'am ; but this excessive
hot weather relaxes my nerves so much, that I am
obliged to take bark three times a day, or I could not
live." " Ah (rejoins the other) that relaxation of
the nerves is a terrible disorder ; I am troubled with it
frequently, but I never could bear the bark, it ties
me up so much, so that I am forced to submit to my
fate : and if you'll believe me, I'm sometimes so low
spirited." “ Low spirited, Mrs. S ? (cries an
old maid from the opposite fide of the table) then I'm
sure you can't have a w rfe disorder. But pray, what
is that black ribbon round your arm for ? “ Ob la,
ma'am, (replied the other) it is a blind boil, which I
have had for this week ; Mr. T— —advised me to
poultice it with a white bread poultice, which I have
done for four nights fu ccefsfully, but cannot bring it
to matter." By this time the draught arrived, and
the lady swallowed it before us. " Well (fays her
youngef ldaughter) I wonder how my mama can take
so much physic ; I would fee all the doctors at Jericho
firfl." " ^y, child, (cries her aunt, the old maid
before mentioned) your time is not come yet; little
did I think, when I was your age, to take so much
as I have done , but the (curvy was always in our fa.
roily, and I could never get entirely rid of it, though,
thank God, I have kept it under pretty well ; but
you may fee it in my arms and hands (extending her
fingers) and sometimes, when overheated, in my face,
(poking, out her nose and chin like a pair of nut
crackers)" “ He ; gh ho! (cries the founder of the
feafl) " What (said I, clapping him upon the back)
are you a sick man too ?" “ Only (fays, he) a little
touch of the piles." “ My dear (said his lady) you
should bleed and take physic ; for you know when the
surgeon bled you last, he said your blood was nothing
but'a mass of corruption."
It would be endless, and disgusting to give your
readers a complete detail of this brilliant conversati
on, in which the major part of the company came in
for share. A length a middle-aged lady on my left,
clapped her hand upon her fide, with a deep refpirati
cn, w' en one aiked her, if she had a pain there?
“ Oh! no, fir, it is worse than that, my physician
tells me it is a polypus in the heart." “ But you
may get relief perhaps ?" Oh 1 no, nothing will cure
me but an underground sweat." “ A polypus,
(fays one) what js a polypus ?" “ Pray (fays a fufly
widow who had not yet taken part in the debate) is
a polypus in the heart of the fame kind with a poly
pus in the nose ? for I have had a thing growing in
my nose these two months, which hinders my taking
fnuff, or wearing fpeßacles, and they tell me it is a
polypus : here, you may fee it," (stretching her head
half-way over the table, and extending her nostrils
with her two thumbs.) We could do no less, in good
manners, than take a view of the precious morsel,
, and give her our several opinions upon it. At last, an
old gentleman, who had been fumbling in his waist
coat pocket a quarter of an hour, produced a little
woo'^ ' box, and holding it between his finger and
thumb, " Here, boys and girls (quoth he with an air
of triumph, at the fame time empty ingabout an ounce
of red sand upon the table) what are all your disor
ders put together compared with mine ? All this gra
vel ha<h passed through my body in the (pace of two
months." Upon this, a beautiful girl of seventeen,
at my right hand, could hold no longer, but turning
aside her head with an enchanting blush, made a curte
fey, and retired to the garden, under a pretence of
want of air : and I, being perfectly forfeited with the
difeourfe, soon followed her, leaving the convales
cents for a time, to compare notes, and fettle matters
how they fhould.p ease. I could not but reflect upon
the folly of mankind in introducing such fulfome to
picks of conversations at their convivial entertain-
BASSETERRE (St. Shriftophers) November 10, 1781.
We are always sorry when it is not in our power to
amuse our readers with intelligence that seems, at lea ft
to have fame pr bability of a shadow of the shade of a
foundation. At present we are even destitute of that ;
indeed on the other fide of the atlantic they seem to be
much in the fame predicament, for their papers are as
barren as the most barren of ours. It is true, you may
fee the camplaints of the great children for their shares
of the toast and butter, in almost all the European pa
pers. If half a dozen heads of those babies were made
a present of to Temple Bar, the nation would be no
great fufferer by the event, as the rest would be induced
to put up with their dogloaves for their breakfaft.
We are not fond of alarming the fears of our readers;
but if the rebel accounts are to be credited, lord Corn
wallis is to be devoured. But we have too great an 0-
pinion of the noble general, and the prudence of the
commander in chief, to be any ways apprehensive for
his lordship's fafety. However, to make use of the words
of a contemporary brother f y pe, and indeed it is often
used at the old bailey, “ God fend him a good deliver
ance."
Nov. 17. The intelligence received from St. Tho
mas's since oar lafl, has changed the face of affairs in
America. It seems confirmed that lord Cornwallis has
been compelled by the French and Rebels to surrender
with his army.
However we have the pleasure to inform our readers,
that the homeward-bound August fleet were fafe ar
rived in English ports before the last packets failed from
Falmouth. This intelligence is brought by captain
Kempthorn, commander of the packet that called in
here three days ago on her way to Jamaica. Between
40 and 50 guineas premium was paid on this fleet.
August 21. Captain M'Niel, late commander of
the privateer General Mifflin, having found means to
escape from the prison of F rton, by bribing the cen
tinels, was arrested last Thursday just as he was co
ring off for France, and put on board the Nightingale
lighter, laying off the lower.
August 24. The passengers of both sexes, who
were on board the Mercury packet, from Lisbon for
Falmouth, prize to the Cicero privateer, of ;alem, in
New England, Hugh Hill, commander, desire us to be
the infiruments of their gratitude, in poblifhing, that
as well from the captain and officers, as the crew,
they have received the most civil, humane, and even
noble treatment,
menfs ; and resolved, at a proper opportunity, to
make it the fubjed of a letter in your paper, which,
with your permiffior,, I now do, and remain, fir,
your very humble servant,
A LOOKER-ON."
" The Admiral General, a Dutch ship of 76 guns,
is now on shore in the Texel road ; captain Macbride
was out taking a view of their fleet, and brought this
account : They have now twelve or thirteen fail of the
line, and twelve friga es ready to come out ; we are
anxiously expecting them. Our force is the Princess
Amelia, 80 guns, Bellona 74, Berwick 74, Fortitude
74, Buffalo 60, Princess Caroline 54, Prefion 54, Samp
son 64, Artois 44, Latona 38, Cleopatra 32, Myrmy
don 24, one brig and two cutters.
October 10. Many people incline to think that or
ders were sent to admiral Darby, as soon as advice was
received of the Jamaica fleet having returned, and the
leeward island trade being fafe arrived, for him to pro
ceed directly without the least delays to the relief of
Minorca, and endeavour to destroy the Spanish squa
dron covering that siege.
A letter has been received last week by a friend, from
general Murray, governor of Minorca, who fays, that
he is so well provided with all kind of provisions and
flores as will be fufficient or eight months. And when
we confider the defence this gallant officer made of
Quebec the last war, we need not doubt but with a
garrison of 5000 men, all in good health and spirits,
will make a most glorious defence.
Private letters from Gibraltar, add, to the horror
of the deceptions ^ hich have been given of the de
plorable slate of that place. They fay that the bom
bardment does not difeontinue, and that its effects are
terrible. One of the greatest mi chiefs is the breaking
open of the cellars, which it is impoffibe to (hut
against the soldiers, who from this circumstance are
always drunk ; and yet this misfortune is perhaps not
so great, as otherwise it might be, for t efe letters fay,
that when they are not drunk, they murmur exceed
ingly-
Sept. I. This morning, at four o'clock, died at his
house in Goodman's Fields, George Hayley, enquire,
alderman of Cordwainer's ward, an eminent merchant
of this city, and one of its representatives in the last
and prefear parliament.
Oft. 2. The Gen. Conway privateer of Jersey, has taken
the Viper American letter of marque, of ten four poun
ders, after an action of two hours, in which the Ame
rican bad five wounded ; she was bound from Nantz to
Philadelphia, lo ded with fait and bale goods, is arri
ved at Jersey, valued at about 60001. There were
three American schooners in company, who escaped.
Extrad of a letter off the Texef the 21st of Septem
ber.
An infallible REMEDY to cure the ANGER of a
A Certain Curate, who lived in a village of Tuscany,
was so fond of his dog, that when he died, he bu
ried him in the church-yard.
The bishop was determf ed to prosecute him for the
profanation of holy ground. The curate, who knew
the avaricious temper of the prelate, said to him, " If
your lordihip did but know the sense of the little ani
mal, 1 am sure you would think him a rational crea
ture; would you believe it, my lord, he made his will
juftbefore lie died, and left your lordship a purse of
ducats, and here they are ?" The bishop smiled at the
curate's ingenuity, took the money, and forgave the
facriltge.
From the WESTMINSTER MAGAZINE.
L O N
BISHOP.
D O N.
BOSTON, January 3.
Last Saturday the 29th ult. a cartel arrived at Pau
tucket from New York, with about 60 men, some of
which arrived in this town on Sunday ; they inform
that the Hessian troops were all emba king 'tis con
jeDured for South Carolina ; and that the inhabitants
were packing up their goods, and preparing to leave
the city.
PROVIDENCE, December zg.
The feftival of St. John was celebrated here on
Thursday last, by the ancient and honorable Society
of Free and Accepted Masons. The lodge was open
ed in the council chamber at eleven o'clock, A. M.
at twelve the right worfhipful Master and Brethren
(about 80 in number) adjourned to the lower floor of
the state house where a concourse of refpedable in
habitants and Grangers had assembled, when an orati
on, well adapted to the occasion, was pronounced by
brother Dr. Thomas Truman. The Master and Bre
thren then went in procession to Hacker's Hall, and
after partaking of an elegant entertainment, returned
in like manner to the council chamber. The whole
was conduced with that propriety and firidnefs of
decorum which have ever diflinguifhed this ancient
and honourab e Fraternity.
On Thursday a flag of truce arrived in the river
from New York, which place she left yesterday fe'rt
night, and brought about 60 Americans, late prison
ers there, among them captain Phoenix Frazier, and
captain John Burrough, of this place; the former
was bound from France for Philadelphia, in a brig,
and on his passage met with captain Burrough, who
had been drove out to sea in a small sloop from the
Chesapeake, with the loss of his fails, and the sloop
being in a very leaky condition, he, with his crew,
were taken on board the brig, which was afterwards
captured by a British cruizer, and carried into New-
York.
We learn by the flag, that several other prizes have
been lately carried into New-York, among which are
a French cutter, that lately failed from Newport for
Chesapeake, some veffcls belonging to Philadelphia,
&c.
Dec. 5. Statia and the Dutch quarter of St. Martin's
are given up to the Dutch, and are freeports for all
nations.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Antigua, to
his friend here, dated November 28.
" I have now to acquaint you of a piece of news I
heard this morning It seems a frigate, or privateer,
of ours, I do not know which, took an advice-boat,
or packet, detached by the governor of St. Fee, on
the part denominated Terra Firma, of South Ameri
ca, and direded to the marquis del Florida, the Span
ish prime minister. This packet, on the capture of the
vessel, was hove overboard, but as it did not fink time
enough, by the agility of a seaman, was saved by di
ving, and was brought into Bermudas with the prize,
end was transmitted hither, when Mr. Nihell, a mer
chant of Irish extra Dion, well versed in the Spanish
language, read the contents this morning, and inform
ed me the governor ofthe province, and other leading
men, gave the marquis an account of several insurrec
tions, which had broke out in different places, and
that if a fleet and troops were not immediately dispatch
ed, he apprehended the most melancholy and fatal ef
feAs would be the consequence, and that a'general de
feHion to the Spanish monarchy would take place.
This you may rely on, as I had it from Mr. Nihell,
who confirued it to me from Spanish this morning.
" We are very busy here erecting redoubts near
Monk's Hill for the protection of English harbour, and
the militia and artillery regiments still exercising, and
were reviewed twice, when they I assure you, cut a
very refpeHable figure, and went through the evoluti
ons of the cannon and firing surprisingly well • I am
sorry I could not perceive the fame attention at St.
Kitt's, when I was there."
NEW-LONDON, Jan. 4, 1782.
Yesterday a flag of truce failed from this port for
Huntington with the officers of tie late Eagle packet,
and several British masters of vessels, who came here by
land from Boston on parole.
In answer to the latter part of the above letter, we
beg leave to inform the author that our militia are now
emerging from the obfeu ity in which it has for some
time lain. Our guards are regularly mounted, and e
very precaution taken that St, Kitt,s shall neither be
bought or fold—No. 3000 joes from the military chest.
There is no fpieces of labour so severe as the loss of
honour ; but to extenuate this it it may be said a man
eannot lose what he never knew.
Several of the officers of the captured regiments of St.
Euftatius, together with their servants, are here on pa
role; they seem to be not over and above pleased.
The fame day, a prize brig, taken by the Fortune,
as mentioned in our last paper, arrived at Beverly
from the Eafiward. She is laden with wine and fruit.
SALE M, December 27.
By a gentleman who arrived at Newbury port, last
Friday night, from Gouldfoorough, we have an ac
count, that two days before he left that place, a report
prevailed there, that a small schooner privater, called
the Languedoc, belonging to this port, had recaptured,
off the light-hdufe of Halifax, a large ship, laden with
India goods, firft bound from Elfinenr to Philadelphia ;
and that the ship and privateer were arrived in a fafe
port
A ship, with a most valuable cargo of English goods,
bound from London to the Weft.lndies, was, a few days
since, sent into port by the Hendrick privateer, of this
place. The ship, though furnifhed with Dinifh papers,
and manned by a Danish crew, is, together with the car
go, supposed to be British property.
Last Monday, a large prize ship, lately taken by cap
tain Neill, in the Fox privateer, of this place, arrived
from an Eaflern port, where she had been waiting for
a wind. Her cargo consists of about 300 hogsheads of
rum and sugar, with a considerable quantity of cotton
and coffee.