The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-11-11 00:00:00, page 2

August 2. The departure of the fleet which is to
fail from Quebec to England this autumn, is fixed for the
25th of October, and two men of war are to convoy them,
one of which, the Leviathan, is now on her passage to A
merica.
ExtraH of a letter from Exeter, Aug, 2^.
" Our hurry and confufion, occasioned by the appear
ance of the combined fleet off our coast, are a little blown
over ; wedo not, however, think ourselves so secure now
as not to provide for a second visit, fliould they dare to re
turn. Plymouth is put in such a state of defence, that
should they attempt to land near that place, their enter
prize would be attended with great loss; and, by the
blessing of God, we have some reason to hope that their
e^rtsof that kind there, or at any other place, will prove
inelFeaual."
Sept. 2. The St. Joseph, Capt, Caster, from the Ha
vannah, with 3,000,000 of specie on board is arrived at
Cadiz. She left five others that failed in company with
her, ten days after they failed, in a gale of wind.
Extras of a letter from Cowes, August 31.
“ Arrived his Maj fly's Hoop of war the Cabot, with a
fleet oHhips from Gurnfey. Two Dutch ships arid a Swede,
laden with fait, are taken by the Oxford privateer of this
port, on their passage from one French port to another,
and are carried into Pool."
Sept. 4. Orders are gone over to India to demolish
the foi tifications at Pondicherry, and all other French set
tlements that have or my fall into our hands.
By letters from Brussels we are assured, that the French
are forming magazines in the bishopric of Liege, in order,
as it is supposed to awe the Dutch from taking a decisive
part in favour of England.
Bamber Gafcoyne, Esq; is appointed a Lord of the
Admiralty, and Andrew Stuart and Edward Gibbon,
Lords of Trade. The Hon. H. Dundas, Esq; Keeper
of his Majesty's Signet in Scotland. Lord Onflow is
appointed Treasurer of his Majesty's Household, Vice
Lord Carlifle, the latter fucceds Earl Talbot, as Lord
Steward.
We are assured from the moR refpeaable authority,
that another negotiation for peace is actually again upon
the carpet, through the mediations, of rhe Courts of Ruf
fid and Prussia, by their Miuifters at Versailles; and the
prefect inactivity of the fleets of Great-Britain, France,
and Spain, may in some measure be accounted for, by the
repeated memorials delivered to the Court of France by
the Ruffian, Dutch and Prussian Ministers, all tending
to a re-conciliation between the belligerent powers.
The ma^y late reports about Lord Howe being to take
the command of the 'grand fleet, are certainly void of all
foundation, nor can they answer either of the pnrpofes
for which they seem evidently calculated. If they have
any meaning at all, it must be either to disparage the cha
rader of Sir Charles Lardy, or to enhance that of Lord
Howe. But the reputation of the former is too well efta
bunted to fuffer by such little tricks.
Notwithstanding it is reported that Sir Charles Hardy's
fleet and the combined fleets of France and Spain were,
according to late accounts, in fight of each other, and
that most probably a decisive engagement must 'ere now
have taken place, 'tis confidently laid that a negociation
is actually on foot, in order to bring about a re-conciliation,
and that there is great reason to believe orders have been
received by the refpetlive Admirals to avoid coming to an
engagement, till such time as the event of this negocia
tion is known.
There is now every reason to believe, that Sir Charles
Hardy entered the channel on Sunday iaft with the fleet,
all in high spirits, and eager for action. Information has
also been received from the Captains of some neutral vef
fcls, which the French had boarded, that the combined
fleets of the enemy were likewise entering the channel,
from 20 to 25 leagues westward of Sir Charles Hardy's
fleet. (Inpurfait )
Died July the Bth, in the 2;d year of his age, Robert
Bertie, Duke of Aueaftar and Koftoven, Marquis of
Lindsey, Lord Great Chamberlain of England by inheri
tance, Lord Lieutenant and Cuftos Rotulorum of the
county of Lincoln, and one of his Majesty's most Honor
able Privy Council.
Madrid, July 6.
FHE King has notified to the Ambassadors of the
Courts of Vienna, Sardinia, Portugal, Venice and
Malta, and .the Minivers ofßuffia, Sweden, Holland and
Denmark, that one of the raeafures he has taken against
Great-Britain, is the blockade of Gibralter by land and
sea, and that in consequence thereof, no ship of war or
merchantman of any nation will be permitted to eater
that port.
July 13. Weare at present entirely occupied in ma
king the necessary preparations for the siege of Gibralter.
The number of troops destined for that expedition consists
of 15,000 infantry, and 12 squadrons of cavalry ; the ar
tillery amounts to 200 pieces of cannon. A numerous
corps is also to march towards the frontiers of Portugal.
We flatter ourselves, that by the measures taken for the at
tack of that place both by land and sea, the siege cannot
last above four or five months.
Warsaw, July 14. An order is received here from
Peterfburgh, for the Ruffian troops to evacuate Poland
and return totheir own country. Inconfequence of which,
several regiments of that power have already entered Li
thunia, and some of their magazines are fold; but others
are left for the fubfiftance of the troops which still remain.
The departure ofthe Ruffians is much regretted in Volhi
nia and Podolia, as they pay for every thing in ready
money, which is of great advantage to the Poles.
Amsterdam, July 26. We are informed that the
Court of I.ifbon hath given orders for equipping, with
all speed, several ships and frigates of war, that they
may not be unprovided in the present trouble in Eu
rope.
Hague, July 27. The King of Denmark has fitted
out a final! fleet to cruize against the Barbary corsairs,
who have lately attacked and taken many merchant ships
belonging to that nation.
July 29. The Dutch Admiralty have latly put 10
ships of war in commission, mounting 64 to 46 guns each,
which are ordered to be victualed and manned with the
greatest dispatch.
LONDO N.
The following tragical affair happened at the north pa
rish in Killingworth, on Wednesday last, viz. the wife of
Mr. — Higgins of chat pariffi, being disordered in her
reason, and being left in the house with three of her chil
dren, file called her son of seven years old, to her, telling
him the wanted to pin his collar, and immediately cut
his throat, the then cut the throats of her daughter of five
years old, and her infant which lay on the bed ; Mr. Hig
gins soon after coming into the house, found her on her
knees, cutting her own throat with adull knife, which with
some difficulty he wrested from her; but Ilie had wounded
herfelf to that degree the died soon after.
October 27. Yesterday fe'nnight was found about seven
miles from Hartford ferry, on the Bolton road, about 30
rods from the road, the bones of a man, who was supposed to
have been murdered about five months ago : His saddlebags,
boots and several articles of cloathing were found with him
(which will be described in our next) 2 pistol which had
been difeharged was also found near him. A horse was found
near the place about five months ago, supposed to belong to
the above person, which, tho' advertised, no person ap
peared to claim.
Last Friday was brought into port, by the Experiment,
Capt. Sage, and the Lively, Capt. Efek Hopkins, a
schooner laden with provisions, and Weft-India and dry
goods, a brig laden with lumber, and an armed schooner
(their convoy) mounting fix four pounders: They were
from New-York, bound to Newport, and captured off
Point Judith.
'' Immediately upon my hearing the news that Rhode-
Island was to be evacuated, I communicated to you thedif
agreeablc intelligence. It is a distressing reflection, that
from the cruel fate of war, we are to be separated for some
length of time, for I cannot entertain the idea of hurrying
you and my dear children from Rhode- Island to this place,
without being furnifhed with a house suitable for your re
ception. As 10011 as it is possible I will relieve you, until
then you must patiently submit to the dispensation of Pro
vidence. This city is already so crouded that I can scarcely
obtain lodgings. This fatal resolution of evacuating
Rhode-Bland is, lam informed, in consequence o f some
intelligence, by a Spanish gentleman, taken in a prize just
fentin here.—My feelings upon this occasion I cannot ex
press The pain and anxiety which I now experience from
tne apprehensions of being separated from you for four or
five months, almost diftrads me, and nothing but a con
feioufnefs of that duty I owe to you and my poor children
could support me on so trying an occasion. I haveafked
leave to come home, tout cannot obtain permission, as the
expedition I am ordered upon may fail before I can return ;
and besides, every rag of cloaths I have are on board ship,
that I was obliged this morning to borrow a shirt. Deliver
Major Upham all the refugee papers, and the printed de
claration in the store- room. lam now to commit you to the
care of Providence, and beg that you will seriously com
pose yourfclf; for remember, my dearest P , through the
cruel fate of war, your duties are isicreafed, and that my
poor children will demand your dofeflattention. B ,
" The enemy's evacuation of Newport will gain us many
friends, and of course, them many enemies. I he<r the no
torious and corrosive Wanton has remained in Newport ;
I hope he may be exalted for his audacity and activity since
the enemy arrived there."
On Thursday arrived here a cartel ship of the enemy's,
from New York, in seven days, with 238 Americans, who
have been in captivity several months and been used very
inhumanely ; though much better treatment have they ex
perienced since our Ally's fleet arrived in these seas; and
their fncceffes in Georgia has contributed greatly to abate
their inhumanity.
Chief ofthe prisoners that came in this ship belong to the
Weft ward, and tho' two cartels of ours wanted in York for
them, yet they refufed to deliver them up, and thought
proper to fend them to this port, in order the more effedu
ally to harrafs them.
We learn; that the auxiliary troops in York, under Mr.
Clinton, are extremely un€afy, and make no scruple to fay
they will not fight against the combined force of America
and France; but will join Gen. Waihington, immediately
on the city's being formed.
Extract of a letter from Providence, dated the 28th inflant.
" This town is forfaken nearly since the evacuation of
Newport ; all the army (with the worthy General) except
Jackion's infantry, have quitted us, and marched on the
Island. General Gates, it is said, has effectually baffled
the intentions of (peculators .rem all quarters; by prohibi
tions.
The fllips now cruizing in our Bay are the Roebuck and
Roemulus of 44 guns each—The Solebay frigate has been
with them, but is gone for Halifax to clean. The Dela
ware of 28 and the Renown of goguns were both difmafted
in the late gale of wind, and lay now at Sandy-Hook re
fitting. Four large ships were funk in the channel at York.
A difference had taken place between Mr. Clinton and
Mr. Arbuthnot about the practicability of defending York
against Count D'Eftaing's fleet and General Washington's
army. Dejection is pictured in he tory's countenances at
York, and they shudder at the profpeCt of their fubduCtion.
This morning arrived here the Amsterdam, Capt.M'Gee,
a Letter of Marque from Holland, in 52 days passage.
The letters and principal accounts brought by this vessel
were not opened at the firiking off this paper. We can only
acquaint our readers that Holland remains determined to
support their Neutrality, and to furnifh no fuccours for
England. That the Spaniards continue vigorously to be
siege Gibralter, and have cautioned all Neutral maritime
powers against fending in any supplies to the garrison.
That the French and Spanish fleets still remain masters of
the channel, and the British fleet blocked up in their own
ports. That the French were busy in embarking a great
body of troops for a defeent on the British or frith coa tts ;
and that a British man of war of 64 guns, together with a
number of frigates, privateers, and merchantmen, have
been taken and sent into France; that several very wealthy
merchants and other gentlemen of England had removed
to Holland with their effects in consequence of Great-Eri
tain's invasion, &c.
Extract of a letter from a person in New-York, to his wife
in Newport, found in the prize schooner which was
brought into port last Friday, by the Experiment, Capt.
Sage.
My beared,
NEW - LONDON, October 20.
BOSTON, O&ober, 30.
One Hundred Dollars Regard.
RAN AWAY from the fubferiber'spaper-mill,
in theNortharn Liberties, an apprentice lad nam
'd JOHN BOWER S, between eighteen and nine
teen years of age, about five feet five or fix inches high,
brown complexion, r # und vitage, black hair tied be
hind, the fore part of which has been lately combed
back : Had on when he went awav, two waittcoats, one
of which was of coating, with sleeves, and donble
breafted; the other without sleeves, which he wears
under; a homespun flurt and trowfers, round hat and
since he went away has got a pw of blue woolen trow
fers. Whoever t^kes up said lad and brings him to bis
master, shall receive the above reward and r^afcnable
charges, paid by MORRIS TRUMAN.
FOR SAL E,
A N elegant HARPSICHORD, with ftops;a
bandfome CHARIOT, with barnefs compleat ;
also a likely young BAY HORSE. Enquire of the
Printer,
Also just publiflied, and to be fold at the above places
MEMORABLE'
ACCIDENTS
AND UNHEARD-OF
TR A N S A C TI ON S
CONTAINING,
An Account of several France EVENTS; as the De
pefing of Tyrants, Lamentable Shipwrecks, Dismal
Misfortunes, Stratagems ofWar, Perilous Adventures
A ^ a ° ces : ^ ith other remarkable Occurrences
and fe ea Hiftoncal Events, which have happened in
several Countries in the last Age.'
Translated from the FRENCH.
N.B. Said M E NT Z binds books in the befl man
ner, and gives ready money for new and old books like
wife for any number of calf and sheep skins.
Marble Paper by the ream or smaller quantity and
Red Ink warranted superior to any ever made in America
by the jhl, quart or gallon, to be fold by said Mentz.'
Imported and to be fold by
HARMAN AND LEWIS,
At their store near the Drawhrid^
Choice clar et in h O gfoJ' in pr ; me
order for bottling ; white and brown linens
checks, cambricks, lawns, lace, knives arid 'orks, &c'
WANTED, a quantity of CT pty Claret Bottles.
er"t~c "0V
Has removed from Second street to the enft fide of Wa
ter-street, below Walnut ftrect, to the house lately
occupied by Abraham Mason, where he has for f 24
on reasonable terms,
r> OOD Mufeovado sugars, coffre, tea, heft old
spirit and rum ; alf^ a few D y Goods, such as fine
striped coatings, white flannels, fine Irlh linens, cotton
and linsn checks, plain gauze and gauze handkerchiefs,
black princes fluff for breeches, black perfians, mens
silk and thread gloves, & . &c.
NARRATIV E,
of CoLONEL ethan allen's
CAPTI V I T Y,
Fr^m the time of his being taken by the Britiffi, near
Montreal, on the twenty-fifth day of September, 177 c
the "™ e ° f ™ s exchange on the sixth day of
May, 177 S ; containing bis VOYAGBS and
" ''" '' w ''h " :e m °ft remarkable occurrences
resetting himfelf, and many other Continental prison
ers of different ranks and characters, which fell under
h is observation in the course of the fame; particularly
the deftruCtion of the prifoaers at New-York, by Ge
neral Sir William Howe in the years 1776 and 1777
interspersed with some Political Obftrvations.
Written by Himiejf, and now published for the informa
tion of the curious in all nations.
When God from Chaos gave this World to be,
Man then he form'd, and form'd him to be free.
American Independence, a Poem, by Freneau.
poor boy, laments his unhappy fixation, though he had
rather be with me than, become a prifoner.^ Adieu my
dearest P . Your's, &c.
New-York, Sept. 29, 1/7,.
N E W.Y O R K.
October 29. Yesterday was brought in here, by one of
our cruizers, a French snow, with a very valuable cargo
from Marseilles, bound fur Bollon.
Wednesday arrived a fleet from Rhode-Ifland, with
troops, refugees, and loyal inhabitants.
, Off. 30. By Capt. Slater, in a letter of marque, in 21
days from Quebec, we are informed that two days before
his departure, two men of war convoying a cohfiderable
number of land forces, were fafe arrived there in fix weeks
from England.
Nov. i. Monday was sent here by his Majeftj's ship
the Perseus, and the Delight brig, a letter of marque flrp
from Bofion, bound to St. Croix, formerly the thip Ame
rica of this port, a French vessel from the Southern Provin
ces, for the Weft Indies, and a Virginia Pilot Boat.
Saturday the schooner Polly, Jo^UWNeal,mafter, arri
ved here from St. Lucia, in 28 days; when he left that
place there was no account ofthe Count D'Eftaing in the
Weft-Indies. 6
Ihe fame day Capt Carson in a brig, came up in fix
yee-ks from Lisbon: Ten days ago, he fell in with a /loop
from ot. Augufiine, but last from St. John's for London,
23 , d, s out , ,h° informed Capt. Carson, that the Count
D Eflaing had been at Beaufort about 40 days ago.
^^WiXXXXXX^^^iX^X^x
Just published and to be fold by WILLIAM MENTZ
Cherry Alley, WILLIAM WOODHOUSE, in
ftree G and Messrs. EUGH-
L % a °' GRBEN, m Front-street, between Market
and Arch-streets,