The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-09-16 00:00:00, page 2

W'E believe it will give our readers pleasure to have
the particulars of the gold lately taken on board
the Prince of Orange packet boat, one of the richest pri
zes we have made this year. 38,160 ducates of gold, 2
double ducates, 5 pieces of ducates, 1407 guineas, 220 half
guineas, 8 ingots of gold, 60 sovereigns, 1 half sovereign,
75 quarters efa sovereign, 94 double pieces of the queen,
xs6 h If pieces of ditto, 101 por^guifes, 15 pieces of gold,
of Philip IVth, 4.3 half pieces ditto.
The whole weighing 755 marks, 4 ounces, and 3 grains.
A mark is 3 ounces.
Advice received from Bayonne, confirms the capture of
the Montreal, a Braith frigate, in the Mediterranean An
~other frigate, which force call the Surpiize, others the
Tnetis, etcaped to Gibralter, after being feverfly handled.
The American, one of our cruizers, Capt. La Corcadiere,
is returned to Granville; the has taken a vessel ransomed
for 18,000 livres.
On the i§th ct April, the Prince de Montbarry, one
of our cruizers of 20 guns, attacked the Ihip Montague,
coming from Leghorn, with 40 men, 12 , uns and 8 obu
fiers; after-afmirt engagement of two hours and a half,
the Montague being totally disabled, surrendered She
Was said to~be wortn £SOO 000 fieri, but we are assured
the cargo amounts to £IBO,OOO. This prize was brought
into Granville on the 22d of May.
MESSAGE from the Pumdcnt, and SuPkiMh Exe
cutive Council, to the Representatives Of the,
Frefmen of Peoiafylvania, in General Assembly met.
Gentlemen of the General Affembf)
IT is with the greatest fatisfaftion we congratulate you,
upon the various successes which have ditiioguifhed
the period of your recess. While the most consummate
bravery and discipline have marked the enterprizes of our
troops by land, glory and victory have attended those of
our allies by sea ; fucctfes, which at once reflet the
highest honor upon th-.mfelves and the refpedive nations,
and afford the faireft profpea of speedy tranquility and
peace.
When, to these happy events, we add the accession of
another great and foreign poller to the interests of Ame
rica, and that the year has been crowned with a most
plentiful harvest, we cannot but admire and acknowledge
the favor and goednefs of Providence. In short, nothing
teems left us to with,. but a revival of that public spirit
and virtue which (hone with so much laflre in the early
days of this contest, and which deems now necessary, for
the reftbration Of public credit and the relief of our
fostering frontiers. To both these objeds we must re
cueft your immediate and unremitted attention ; and to
this end Iliad now lay before you sundry resolutions of
the Honorable the Congress for calling in large sums of
the present emissions. We esteem ourselves happy in the
reflection that no steps for the (ecurity of the exposed
counties were omitted by us; the most seasonable orders
for Rationing a body of militia, and allo railing five com
panies of rangers, were issued, ahd every supply required
has been feat without delay. That the orders for the
militia were not punctually complied with in some coun
ties, and in others wholly neglected, is what we have
great ^afon to lament, at the fame time that we think it
well &serving of serious enquiry, that due praise may
be given to those who merit it We cannot but deem
such felf exemptions from public duty as tending to a
criminal relaxation of the bonds of focitty, and a depar
ture from the duties of a well regulated government.
All the papers will now be laid before you, from which
you will observe that, difappoinred in the expected' aid,
the frontier inhabitants have formed themselves into com
panies and , ffoci itio^s for defence, in'the course of which
expellees have been contrasted, which, if they appear in
the fame light to you as they have done to us, you will
not hesitate to discharge, aad thus encourage them to
Continue as a barrier t> the more improved and fettled
counties. How far die revifal and collecting the militia
law, with its vri^; fuppirments, into one compleat
system, will tend ' remedy the like evils in future, we
Submit to your vonfideration. Tne necessity of support
ing a wrii regnlited mihua, we think, is confirmed, by
every day's o fervation and experience ; and while the
enemy is receiving reinforcements, with the avowed pur
pose of desolating the country, we deem it a measure
h r y Serving your attention, s well s that of every
friend to toe f . :dom and interests of the State.
The genet ais resolutions of your Honorable House,
at the R feffi as, or the relief of the army and the fleet,
and vth we liw executed with our best judgment and
attempt, have had die most happy effects in conciliating
the affections and refpe& of those brave and valuable men,
and cementing a frieft.ihip between the civil and military
"powers, highly honorable to both, and beneficial to all.
We would recommend the eloathing them with the finc
fion of law, as a measure pleasing to them and perfectly
consonant to the views of the House. We conceive no
thing now remains on this fubjeft, but to make some
early and suitable provision as a reward for their dangers,
Sacrifices and fatigues, to enable them to return to civil
life with honor and advantage when their military servi
ces may be no longer necessary ; and we hope a mode
may be deviled for this purpose, not oppressive or bur
thenfome to the farmer or tradesman, and yet fatisfadory
40 them. The honor reflected on the State by General
Wayne and the troops of the Pennsylvania line, during
this campaign, would have attracted our immediate ac
knowlegement, if the approach of your sessions had not
inclined us to wait your concurrence, that the marks of
our attention might be more proportionate to the service
they have done, and the glory they have acquired.
We also, Gentlemen, most earneflly recommend to
you to proceed in the great buflnefs of the Proprietary
estates, at least so far as to give the n'ext Assembly an op
portunity to put the finifhing hand to this important and
necessary work. The experience of mankind, the prac
tice of other countries and nations, the sentiments of the
greatest writers on Government, and even our own ob
servation during this great contest, in which the various
principles that govern the human mind have been drawn
forth into view and adion, we think fully demonstrate,
that neither the peace, liberty, or fafety of Pennsylvania
can be deemed secure while this powerful mtereft, at
tached in all its branches to the Powers we have abjured
^d abandoned, is permitted to retain its full force and
PHILADELPHIA, September 16.
P A A I S, May 27.
infc^ce among as. At present the fabjed is dif#t*i
gled from all other considerations of a public nature,
should it, by delay, mingle itfelf with the negotiations
of a general peace, we may long lament, and pofteriry
will justly blame our indolence or timidity, which has
loft the precious Opportunity of refeuing this State from
one of the appendages of its former bondage, and placing
it on the fame equal level of Liberty, Interest, Tranquil
ity and Independence with its filter States. Th^ fafety
of the people is the supreme and pre-eminent law and
bond of fo-iety, and when, as in the present case, this
can be secured confident with the rights of private justice,
we should hold ourselves inexcusable if we did not ex
press our sentiments with freedom, and assure you, that
the general expectation and voice of the people, so far
as our knowlege extends, concurs with them.
The Constitution of this State, witn a wisdom and fore
fight which does honor to its earners, having considered
the education of youth as a mitter of great importance to
the interests of society and order of Government, we have
been led to an enquiry into the nature and government of
those institutions which at present subsist. It is with c@n
cern we observe a general negled of this great duty, both
in town and country, while the growing attention of other
States invites the youth from this, and must produce ef
fetis equally repugnant to public benefit and private COR
venience. Tee principal institution in this State, founded
on the most free and catholic principles, raised and cherilh
ed by the hand of public bounty, appears by its charier
to have allied itfelf so closely to the government of Britain,
by making the allegiance of its Governors to that State a
pre-requifite to any official a&, that it might well have
been presumed they would have fought the aid of Govern
ment for an t flabliihment confident with the Revolution,
and conform ible to the great changes of policy and go
vernment. But,whatever have been the motives, we can
net think the good people of this State can or ought to rest
fatisfied, or the protection of Government be extended to
an institution, framed with such manifeft attachment to the
Britifli Government, and concluded with a general inat
tention to the authority of the States The influence of a
feat of learning upon the peace and good order of Govern
ment have, we think, be : n too fully exemplified in the
country from which we have separated, to permit any well
regulated State to negled or over look it. How far there
has been any deviation from the liberal ground of its firft
establishment, and a pre-eminence given to some Societies
in prejudice to others equally meritorious, the former en
quiries of your Hon. House will enable you to determine;.
for us it is fufficient to declare, that as learning or science
are of no party or fed, we wish to fee them promoted on
the most liberal principles, giving to every denomination
of Christians equal rights and privileges. As Corporations
compofc a species of internal Government, in all great
changes they have been considered as objects of public at
tention and care, that their subordination, obedience and
support to the supreme and governing powers of the State
might be fecureu and preserved. This is a just and ne
. - ffary policy, we think worthy of imitation, as the object
0 the infiitution, whether civil, religious or charitable,
may at the fame time remain inviolate.
The law for prohibiting the exportation of provisions
having expired on the firft instant, w@ thought proper to
continue the embargo until the twentieth of this month,
that in the interval your Honorable House might take this
fubjed into configuration, a fubjeft of very great import
ance to the commercial as well as general interest of the
S aie.
The public highways, Gentlemen, will also require your
care and attention; the laws refpeding them are expired
by their own limitation, and the present condition of the
roads is too well known to make it necessary for us to en
large upon the duty and propriety of making a suitable
provision on this head.
We must also recommend to your consideration the offi
cers of Government : However generous or adequate the
provision for their support, when called forth by you or the
peode to the dilcharge of public duty, you must be fen
folr that the accumulated prices of all the neceffafles of
life, since that time, rhuft make their situation very dis
tressing, and that inflead of " a reasonable compensation
when called to public service to the prejudice of their pri
vate affairs," which the Conflttution declares t® be a right,
they must lessen their private property and fink into po
verty and distress. As the people of this State have in
every period exhibited a nob e and exemplary generosity
in support of Government, it cannot be doubted they will
in this case answer every just and reasonable expectation.
Ira conformity to the laws of this State, and your desire,
we have proceeded to the lale of the coafifeated estates,
and have the fatisfafyon to acquaint you that the sums a
rising therefrom are so considerable as to afford a great re
lief tothe good people of the State from their public,bur
thens; and that the flii, which, under your resolves, we
fitted out ,or defence of the trade of the State, has not on
ly answered that important end, but has been so fuccefsful
as, in a great measure, to compensate the expence of the
undertaking.
Our anxiety to perpetuate and extend the blessings of
freedom, and enlarge the circle of humanity, induce us to
remind you of the bib for emancipating the children born
of Negroe and Mulatto & irents. We with to fee you give
the compleat fanftion bt law to this noble and generous
purpafe, and adorn the annals of Pennsylvania with this
bright display of justice and public virtue.
Thus, Gentlemen, having laid before you a general state
of our public affairs, nothing remains but to assure you of
our chearful concurrence, and assistance where requisite to
facilitate and promote the discharge of your public duties,
and express our perfect confidence in your wisdom, prudence
and dispatch.
JOSEPH REED, President.
Saturday last arrived here, in 20 days from St.Thomas's,
Capt. Burrows who informs, that two days before he fail
ed, a Danish man of war arrived there from Algiers, who
reported, that off Gibraltar he passed through a Spanish
fleet of 40 fail of the line, and 30 frigates, with transports,
having on board 20,000 men.
By accounts from New-York we learn, that an embar
kation is taking place from thence ; that the number is
frem five to eignt thousand, and is given out for Georgia,
though some suppose for the Weft-Indies. We are also
told that 700 men died on board of Arbuthnot's fleet @ll
the passage, and that twelve hundred sick were landed on
them arrival at New-York,
THE MEMBERS of The Society of the Friendly
Sons oj St. Patrick, are requeued to attend their
Quarterly Meeting, to be held at the City Tavern To
morrow, the 17th instant,
Dinner to be on table at Three o'clock.
SAMUEL CALDWELL, Secretary.
J.O H N WALTER S,
In Chefnut street, between Fourth and Fifth-ftreefs,
has for sale by the dozen,
MORAL Essays, in verse, calledthe World Up
side down; Primmers ; a vanity of Childrens
Books ; Almanacks for the enfaing year; General
Washington's head in a watch paper, coloured or plain,
all at the most reasonable rates; the World Up-fide
down nine pounds per dozen. Those who hire given
orders to the fubferiber for the World Up-fide down are
requested to wait till the beginning of next week, when
they Ihall be supplied, the person with whom he was
connected in patlifliing the laid book having in an art
ful manner got the whole of the engravings in his hands,
they being the joint property of him and the fubferiber,
(for reasons whose absurdity c*n only be equalled by
their knavery) refutes to let the fubferiber have the en
gravings to compleat his books, which has obliged him
to engrave a new set, and has occasioned this small de
lay. /
Engraving of all kinds, and'Copper-plate Printing
done in the best and most reasonable manner, by
JOHN WALTERS.
T 6 B~E
A NEGRO WENCH with her child ; the child
is fifteen months old, and a girl. Likewise twe?
BOY S, one ten years old and the other five, both
h^ve had the small pox and measles. Enquire of RO~
BERT SMITH, in Southwark, near Mr. Thomas
Penrofe s, or at his Sail,loft on Hamilton's wharf, is
WANTED to PURCHASE?
A NEGRO WENCH acquainted with cooking
and house-work; also a NEGRO MAN or
BOY for family purpoles, taking care of horses, &c.
Enquire of CHARLES YOUNG, the corner of
Lombard and Third-ftreeti, Philadelphia.
Two Hundred Dollars Reward.
WAS STOLEN from the fubferiber, living in
Montgomery townlhip, Philadelphia county, in
the night of ths feven'h inst. (September) two likely
HORSES, one a brown hay, four years old, about
fi teen hands high, paces and trots well, a fmail white
on his near hind foot, no hrand'or. ear maik that can
L""""^ere^t no Ihoes on. The other a bright bay,
about fourteen hands high, seven or eight years old, a
large Kar in his forehead, branded on the near buttock
thus, A R S, has a remarkable short tail, good courage,
paces, trots and carries well, lately shod before. Who
ever secures laid horses and the thief, so that the owner
may have his horses and the thief be brought to justice,
, ceive the above reward, or Fifty Dollars for
horse, and all reasonable charges if brought home,
P aidb y * JOHN NAYLOR.
Sept. 8, 1,70
" Capt. King, in the sloop Dragon, arrived at Alex
andria the 6th infl. in 38 days front Cadiz, and brings us
the following intelligence: That about the ^th of June
last, the English commenced hostilities against Spain, by
taking 12 of their vessels, bound fr^m Malaga to Cadiz
with wines; that about the 10th of July, a Spanish fleet
and army besieged Gibralter, and had cut off all fuppbes
both by sea and land ; that a fleet of 36 fllips of the line,
from 74 to 100 guns, failed from Cadiz in July, and were
joined by nine fail of the line from another port in Spain,
and that they were also joined by a French fleet of 57 fail,
including frigates 1 their declination not known."
Weft- Point Head- barters, Sept, y, 1779.
SIR,
ON perusing my report to the Commander in Chief, I
find that Captain Dudley's name is omitted. It arose
from the hurry with which my account to the General was
copied. Be pleased to include his name among the Cap
tains Reed, M Lame, &c. before the report goes to the
press ; also Captain Brackenridge's.
lam sorry to give this trouble, but as I am confeious
that the omission is injurious, must beg a compliance with
my requefl.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your Excellency's most obedient,
And most humble servant,
HENR Y L. LEE, Jun.
Ilis Excellency John Jay, Esq;
President of Congress.
Pubifoed by order of Co*arefo,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary,
Three teamen, who left the guard fhiy at Sandy-Hock;
last Saturday night, fay, that Sir George Collier and his
feet were then just without the port. It was given out
that they had destroyed forty fdl of American vessels at
Penobfeot. Several of toe transports which came with Ad
miral Arbuthnot had failed for Halifax, convoyed by the
Renown of 50 guns, and 2 frigates ; but on the arrival of
a polacre, with an account that a French or Spanish fleet
had appeared on the coast of Georgia some days before, an
express was dispatched jo call the transports back ; only a
few of them, however had returned Twenty-two foil of*
victuallers had arrived at New-York from Corl:, oh Tues
day week. By these Yhips news came of an infurreaion
in Scotland, and that a French fleet, with land forces, wa*
off the north of Ireland, preparing to make a defceat. On
Friday last, two prize fllips of twenty kuns each, were
brought in from Penobfeot; the rest being defrayed, as
they underflood, by the Americans, before their retreat.
A ihip 0f74 guns, with two frigates, had been preparing
to go against New-London with troops, but the news of
a Spanifli war, by the packet, had flopped the armament.
Extras of a letter fr<m George 70<0% (Firgi^ia) Jafei