The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-02-08 00:00:00, page 2

BOSTON, January 10.
The following is a copy of a LETTER, addressed to the
General Aflembly es this State, by John Jackson,
and others, late prifoaers of war, captured in their
voyage from Jamaica; previous to their departure in a
for Great Britain.
To the Honourable theCOUNCIL and ASSEMBLY of
the State of Massachusetts- Bay.
Gentlemen, . .
WE should deem ocrfelves deficient in those fenti
m^nts which operate upon liberal minds, were we
not to acknowledge the grateful feufe we entertain of the
peculiar favours you have indulged us with since our arri
val in this country.
The generous treatment we have experienced almost ef
faced the recollection efOTr captivity.
The particular indulgence exteadedto ns in our mode of
departure from America, joned to the general civilities
we have met with during our residence, will, we assure
you, ever remain indelible in our oreafts.
As individuals we can only express ®ur private wishes,
that prisoners on both sides of this unhappy confit, may
ever experience the fame treatment, that mutual good offi
ces may tend to a mutual good underßan^ng, and that
prisoners of all defcriptioos, may quit the refp&ve
countries witn firmiar fcctimems of gratitude, and the mast
earQeft detas for general peace and harmony, wl^b we
request yow ^ belie /animate til, hears of, Gentlemen;
Year yer ^obliged and obedient, 4
humble servants, 0 . .
JOHN JACKSON,
November i s th, %?. ' EDWARD BARRY.
We hear that last Monday f^uight in the severe fnow
florro, a fliip, brig and a febooner, were cast a fhere on
the back of Capa Ann, and every foul on board periihed.
'Tis not as yet known who they were, or where bound.
Sunday morning About day break, a fits broke out at
the lower store on General HancecK's wharf, which en
tirely consumed the fame, together with the fails and rig
ging of a ship belonging to Messieurs Thomas Ruffe! and
Stephen Higgmfon/of this town, merchants, and feme
provisions.—the flipping at the wharf were greatly en
dangered, in particular the new frigate Protestor caught on
firs Sundry times, but by the alertness of the people, not
withflanding the inclemency of the weather, the and the
other vessels received but little damage. Some of the Pro
tector's icofe digging was allo confumed.—'Tis not atpre
fant known how the fire happen'd.
WORCESTER, Jan. 20.
We hear that Major Alien, (of Col. Putnam's regi
titent) and federal other gentlemen in Northampton, a few
cays Q went into the woods co hunt a deer; the gen
' % V^tb b^tby &A ^^ray, or that ^llbe owned bf
^ encw, thill not becoafidereJ as neutral Or allied, ure*
Mire a r e found on board authentic papers, pafied,
before p^'ic offers, who can ascertain the dates,
whi h w* a sale or transfer thereof, to gave been made
co fore one of the fa^& of the allied or neutral powers,
? he comarca .nent of hostilities; and unless the
Aid ^ 'or tr^er of the property ofan enemy toafub
ia^'^urralef allied power, mail have been duly
re-if.^d belote the principal officer of the place of depar
ture and V ^.l by the owner or his Attorney.
fA s to v^ls.^t byrhoeaemy, and taken by Hrs
tiv'a ffi : os'and toofe of his allies or fubjefr during
W* r ^d'which fhail have tai fhld to the fubjeßs of
allied citral s^, they c^not beeonfidered as
are oh baard r ^l,r documents pafled
be' ovblic officers, which prove ?, well the taking
the sale or adjudication wh, fhail have
to jell, of the, laid allied or neutral
r in Fran^ or in the ports of the allied Stat,,
hrh evidential papers are not found as well of the
as of the file, inch veffeh Ihall be good p,ze.
0. AU fe^ignyeffib mail be good prize, onboard of
wbe found a Supercargo, or Clerk, of a cou^C'
5 er whole crew fliall
che third part of thefubj^ or an ene% or
#hirh ihall not have on board a lift 01 tcecrew, authenti
cated by the public dicers of such neutral ports cs the laid
shall have failed from. ~ , .'
His Majesty does not include in the regulations
the preceding article, vessels, the Captains of which
prove by documents on board that they were negated
to receive the or tailors in the ports they came
from, to replace such of the neutral country who find have
died ,
11 It is His Majesty's intention, that in everv case no
panerr which may be procured after the capture c f the
vefcls fhail have any credit or effect cither with re^ro to
the property of the vessels or of the goods they are loaded
with^ 'His Majesty willing that on all occasions regard
fhail be had only to the papers found on board.,
11. Ail vefrls of neutral powers failing from toe ports
of this kingdom, which foali have on board no other
roods or merchandize than such as fhail have been loaded
therein, and which fhail be furled with a pa's from the
Admiral of France, fhail be exempt front being flopped
French armed vessels, and from being carried by them
into any port of the kingdom, under any pretence what-
In case the orefent regulation fhail be contravened
b French ^med vessel, 'there mail be an immediate
erv of the veffela and good? „pt those which
fry be wbj«a to forfeiture, and the laid offenders fhail
be condemned in such damages and costs as the case may
"I/'h s Mslefty orders thatthefe regulations shall ex
tend to vessels 'which may be driven upon the caafts of any
dominions. ,
His Maj^y also direfts, that the directions under
thertie ^Win'the Marine Ordinance of the month of
froft i6Bi fhail be executed in their full import, ex-
CT V 'fo far as they may be altered by this present regula.
t io! which fhail be read, published and regiflered in all
th^ Hoards of Admiralty. And His Majesty commands
and enjoins M. the Duke of Pentheivre to fee that it is
faithfully obferyed.
Done at Versailles, July #6, 17,3. n „
(Signed) L OU I S.
De Sardine.
tieffiin went different wfyfa not long after bite of t^ra
heard a rolling among the buffi&, and lending the
deer tube lodged there, immediately fired, and killed the
Major, who unfortunately was passing that way, and had
occasioned the noise in the bulges.
We are informed that several vessels that were on this
coast, in thelate ft&rm, were call away, and many of theft
crews perilled.
Travelling has not been so much obfiru&ed by the
fife for forty years past. Except the great read from
Boston to Hartford, all are filled and no passing without
foow-fhoes.
The town of Northborough, at 2 late meeting, from a
fente of jufiice to their Mini Her, the Rev. Mr. Whitney,
made him a grant of forty-five for One, in order to make
good his original salary, whichgives him three thousand
pounds lawful money this year. In this grant they were
unanimous and cheerful. Northborough is not above
half so large as this town. In this giant, they have done
themfelve public honor, as well as an a& of justice to their
Mihifter; such justice as every Minister, who does the
duties of his office, ^entitled to, though in feme instan
ces their just dues from year to year are in a most frau
dulent mariner kept back, which reduces them to the
greatest flraits and difficulties, and greatly hinders them
in their minifierial work and service.
Lafl week arrived at Morris-Town, from St. Croix,
(via N. York) Richard Cruger, Enquire, a gentleman ci
eminence, and a zealous Advocate for the rights and ia
a p ^v~? of America.
We hear from New-York, that the enemy are exceed
dhipyanxious for the fate eftheir fleet, which failed foe
the Gn.k^rd, just or ore thelaieviolent gate, being very
a,pr?henfive that the, are difoerfed, and many of them
call on there---and that the adherents to the British go
vernmepi, in that city, appear much mortified, at the
defeat and disappointment of all tte infamous schemes,
which toe, have adviled, and designed for theenflaving of
a free people.
By a gentleman from New. Jersey, we are informed,
that mar 4.0 of the enemy's vessels have been driven on
there, on diffrregt parts of the coast, from Egg-Har
bour, as far fonthward as the Rafters Shore of Maryland
and Virginia.
F I S HK I L 1. February^.
We learn that the enemy, ip two divifea's, have made
an exturfion into New-Jcrfey, and surprised our guards
at Elizabeth-Town ; where they burnt the mcetiug-houfe,
school-house and jail, and carried off federal prisoners :
At Newark, they burnt the academy, and made prisoner
Justice Hedden, and about twenty-five more.
The Sound, between Long-lfland and Connecticut is al*
mofi froze over in the widest parte ; and some persons have
patted over from Long-Island to Norwalk, and other
parts in Connefticut on theice: Wood is brought from
Long-Inland to New-York on sleighs. it isalfo passable
from Patflis-Hook to New-York.
From Rivington's Royal Gazette,
of February 2d.
By James Pattifon, Esq;
Major General of his Majefly's Forces, and Commac
dan: of the City of New-York,
&c. &c. &c.
WHERE AS in all well regulated Societies where
protection is given to the person lad property of
every individual, it becomes the duty of the members of
that Community to contribute their joint aid to the de
fence and preferYation of it. And, having received in an
Address from the principal inhabitants of this City, in be
half of themselves and their fellow citizens, an offer es
their feryices, requesting to be armed and embodied : £
havefherefore thought fit to order that every male inha
bitant reading within this City, from the age of seventeen
to sixty years, fhail be immediately enrolled wider such
officers as are appointed to take the command of the dif
tria in which such inhabitant refpe€tively resides. Those
perfeus who are already enrolled, either in the Loyal
Commissariat, Indepedent, or Volunteer companies, must
procure a certificate from the Captain to whole company
they belong, io order that they may be exempted from be
ing enrolled in the companies now to be eftablifaed.
Any person within the age above mentioned, who fhail
at any time fail to obey the orders he may receive from
his Captain, will be fubje& to imprisonment erbanifhment
from tl^e City, v . # 7
The Firemen and People commonly tailed Quakers, not
bein rwithin the description of persons hereby required tm
take'arms, are nevertheless expelled to exert themselves
in any caies of emergency.
Given under my hand in the City of New-
York, the Twentieth day of January, in
the Year of Lord, One Thousand Sfven Nan
dred^and Eighty, and in the Twentieth
Year of is Majesty's, Reign.
JIMES PAT ISON,
By Command of the General,
John L. C. Ruome, Sec'ry.
PHILADELPHIA, February 1.
Extract of a letter from an officer in high command,
dated Charles-Towe, Dec, 19, 1779.
“ By the last accounts fram Savannah, welearn that
the enemy are quiet, and, for the fake of an airing, they
have encamped their troops at federal plantations, at the
dilutee of 10 miles round, the furtheft from town are at
Abercorn. They are fitting feme transports for sea.
" Before this reaches you, you will doubtless hear, that
the Spaniards have been up the Miffiffipi, aud possessed
themselves of the English Settlements on that river, and
that they made 900 prifoners^ that about the beginning of
this mohth they left Havanna with a refpe&ble fleet
with 4000 troops for Fenfacola or St. Auguftiue, perhaps
both. This the enemy affe& to disbelieve, and are not
reinforcing theie posts; but hourly expeft the troops from
New York."
A privateer brig belonging to St. Augufiine, of 16
guns, commanded by Cape. Redmond, is taken ^nd car
ried into Chades-Town.
POUGHKEEPSIE, January „.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLE.
Monday, January, 31, 1780. P. M.
The Heufe took up the further copfideration of the in
fhcaions to the Delefetescf this Stare in Cungrefs, on
the fubjelt of the floopA&ive, which being debated by pa
ragrsphs, after fonie amendments the eiq, were unani
mcufly approved and are as fellows ; viz.
GENTLEMEN, '.
PW* H E House being informed that it has been pro
& posed in the Honorable Conprefe, that an order be
drawn on the Treasury of the United States for the amount
of three fourths of the neat proceeds of the sloop Aflive
and her cargo, and to pay the fame to Gideon Umflead
and others, appellants in that case, in order to Grisly the
decree of th^ Cxirt of Appeals for prizes made at &, and
that the fame be charged to the State of Pennfylvanie., ro
ferring th id State for indemnification to the threw fourths
in the hands of the Judge of ue Admiralty of Pennsylva
nia.
Trie House in canfequence of the above, have taken the
.premises into their m&ii ferrous conflderaffen : ^gd adopt
,ed the inflruflipfis given by the lafl Hdufeof AfientHy,
to a Committee of the said Hoyfe, who had b^en appoint
ed toco ' r with a Committee of Congress in the case of the
sloop Active, which infiruaicns are in the following
wordsr
Rdfolrtd Ift, That “ the power of eft^bkhieg Courts
for receiving and derermi^in, finally Appeals in all cases
of captures, is referred in Congrefe, by the articles of
Confederation § aud as the Stare of Penirfylvauia has ac-'
eeeded to thefearticks, this Heuie otfeem it their duty to
adopt such regulations, confident with the princiflesof the
Confederation, as C^ngrefs may judge necessary for the
due exerife of the said powq.
Resolved :«, That by our Alt of this Commonwealth,
for establishing a Court oi Admiralty, it is declared and
epa&d, that the finding of the Jury fhail eßabiiOi the
falls without re-examing'ion or appeal; and that the All:
is tint repugnant to,fait coßSfienc wi;b the resolutions of
Congress, of the 2§'h of November, 1775.
Refolded fl, That the proceedings in the Court of
Admiralty in the case of the flosp Active, were founded
upon the aforesaid A& of Affably, which, - together
with thafaid resolve form rhe ^riftro^d whereupon the
decidua of the contefled point fhoukt be made without
involving a cemfideration of the rectify or propriety of
future alterations.
Th: House lihewife inflr.ua „u immediately to inform
the Honorable Body of which you are Members, that
this House will colder any apph^tiou of the money of
this State, by Congress to the farpsfe aferehtid, as am high
infringement on the honor and rights of rhe Common
wealth of Pennfylvani,, and io this view will com
plain in an afpecial manner of those delegations which
fhail concur in any vote for that purpofa, to the faveral
legislative bodies from whom they refpe&ively derive their
powers.
And you are further inftruaed to enter a protest in be
half of this State, that we will pay reg part of the sum
which Congress &ll award out of the Treasury &f the U
aited States, in conftquence of the decree es the Court of
Appeals.
We alfe iufliua you to inform Congress, that the ma
nifeft right of the citizens of this State to the benefit of
its laws, has some time since obtained from the authori
ty thereof, an order for the distribution of the three fourths
given by the verdift of the Jury in this case, to the Cap
tains and crews of the brigantine Convention arid her
cenfort.
The _Honfe views with astonishment the persever
ance and decision of Congress, in rolling upon this
&l%te an eitbarr affluent created by the Court of Ap
peals.
Congress recommended a trial by Jury to be introduced
into the Court of Admiralty, The AffemWy of Feanfyl
vania adopted the measure. A Jury in the case of the
sloop Affive founded their verdia upon the falls. It is
the proper bufinty i and the firia right of Juries to efta
blifli falls. Yerae Court of Appeals took upon them to
violate this effenrial part of Jury trial, and to reduce in
effect, this mode of jurisprudence to the course of the civil
law. A proceeding to which the State of Fenufylvanil
cannot yield.
If the mode of trial by Jury (in cases of captures) as
recommended by Congress, is found inconvenient to th.
circumstances of the United States, as being a mode rm
known to most of the civilized States in Europe;
this House is desirous of conforming to the caflemary
pradice.
The House finally remind you of the laws, which they
understand havebeen puffed in force of the States in the
Union, denying all Appeal in law as well as fall to the
Court of Appeals established by Congress for prize cau
ses, except claimants be foreigners, or captures in the
pay of Coagrefs ; by the operation of one of which laws,
Mr. Hugh M'Cul!ocb, a citizen of Peonfylyania, was
debarred from removing the case of a ship and cargo con
demned in New-England, before the said Court of Ap
peals, aud that little notice appears to have been taken of
these laws, whilst Pennsylvania, conforming to the re
commendation of Congreft, concerning Admiralty jurif
dihioii, in the most legal and ufaai conftruaion of the
expression es it, has not in our opinion been treated by
that Honorable House with fufficient refpelt and atten
tion.
Mr. DUNLAP,
Be pieafed to give the following Hint a place in your next
paper, and oblige one of your coaftaht readers.
#t HE many late most wicked and attrocious robberies
j committed in "this city, caUelh aloud for the most
vigorous exertions of the inhabitants, and shews them the
necessity es immediately forming themselves, without
refpeft to persons, into a nightly watch, teattend a place
of rendezvous well accoutred and under -proper rules and
regulations. As this can be the only remedy io prevent
such villainies in future,, it is tu be hoped, every inhabi
tant, whole property he would wish to protell, will
without hesitation, endeavour to promote so definable a
proportion, as it will not only prevent riots and disor
ders, but (efficiently put a flop to all future robberies;
and it may be so managed as not to pome to each inhabit
tint's turn above once a moath.