The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-08-13 00:00:00, page 2

Foreign News,
Extracted from lite New-fork Papers.
GENEV A, April 27.
f\UR ancient council, who had let Mr. de Vergen
_s nes know of the (edition which reigns in this re
public, has received an ahfwer, dated Verfai les, tire
: „th of A,ri± and only contains three lines, the Sub-
Rance of which is, " that the king' will take it in
hand." Tile letter which the new council wrote was
returned unopened, endorsed received at Versailles,
•the —. —, figned'Rennin.
The council of Berne has also sent back the letter re
ceived from the new council unopened.
PARI S, April go.
The (editions at Geneva aa as if they were possessed
of lawful authority ; they have created a council,
which they call oi Security, formed of four members
of the little count I, and Seven of thezoo. This (edi
tion mud have been long in agitation, ason the Second
day the rebels iffecd a fort of money, the dies for the
coining of which could not be m?de in 24 hour. They
rafed out of the regider of the council of 100, the
nam.s of 50 refpe&ible members.
A MSTERNA M, May 7.
The Canton of Basil is marching troops towards Ge
neva. The king of Sardinia has drawn out 2000 men
along the frontiers: w<ilfl the marquis de St. Simon,
commander in chief in F'r nche-C'rmte is advanc.bg at
the head of 6000 men, to Surround the town.
L ON DO N, May 4.
Should the proposals for peace, transmitted to the
belligerent powers, and now under their confederation,
be rejected, it is determined to make the greatefl na
val tx r ions possible, for whic, purpose a general
embargo will be laid upon all vessels, in order that
revery (hip may be manned. The situation of cur affairs
is such, that this Rep, violent as it is, and injurious to
.individuals as it must be, is the only probable chance
we have of extricating ourselves with honour.
M, y 14. Messrs. Curzon and Guverneur, were yef
terdy discharged from their recognizance in the court
of king's bench. Tbe'r books and papers, which had
been sent home from Euftatia, by fir George Rodney,
Mee at the fame time returned to them, at the earl of
Shelburne's office, It is said they intend to bring'An
aaion againf ltheir persecutors.
May 18. Yesterday general Prefer, and several c
ther officers arrived in town from Portsmouth. They
came pafcnger< in a cartel that is arrived from St.
Kitt's : it is said that provisions were so exceeding
fcarce.il the idand that they were obliged to go down
to Hifpaniol:l to viauaL By these gentlemen govern
ment will receive some particulars relative to the oper
rations of the enemy, in regard to their attack against
Jamaica ; but from Several private letters received yef
tetday from France, we have reason to think the Spani
ards have declined making any descent this year.
/ gentleman who arrived in town yesterday from
the Hague, fays, that the Dutch have so good intelli
gence of what is tranfaaing in London, that they ex
peHedTord Howe to appear with a fleet off the Texel,
which had occasioned the prince of Orange to infpeß
th. fortifications, to learn if they were in a proper Rate
of defence, and to give the necessary orders for im
mediately making them Sc. .
The following letter written by the emperor, to the
due de Crillon, congratulating him upon the conquest
es Mahon, does not appear to indicate a very favour
able disposition in him towards this country ; —
" Dear general,
" Ever since I have beheld your excellency flrug
gling fiagly against the difficulties which are usually
inet with in every court, by those who would aft well,
and (hew themselves superior to the multitude, and
Against the oppositions which those who are generally
Riled men of prudence, form against those shining
qualities which display genius and courage. I have
been ever ready to address myfelf to Heaven on your
behalf, and that the two sovereigns whom you have
the honour of serving, and for whom I entertain the
most sincere regard, both as a friend and an ally,
might be convinced of your superior talents, and pro
nounce heartily je le veux, without refufing you the
necessary means for effecting your designs. In the pre
sent case your excellency has made a glorious termi
nation to your enterprize. The fort of St Philip, and
the whole island of Minorca, being already in the pos
session of the king by your arrangements, and what is
flill greater, your excellency has had a fufficient com
mand over yourfelf to Suffer people to exclaim and to
doubt, as well as the patience to overcome, at the fame
time that you avoided shedding the blood of the men
entru Red to your care, and who are always to be con
sidered of ineflimable value : at present I cannot be fi-
Jent, and I think myfelf obliged to remind your excel
lency of the count de Falkenftein, to whom you did
the favour to (hew a Small part of Spain, and to be his
companion both on horseback and in colleras. From
that moment, my lord duke, I never entertained the
smallest doubt of your excellency's zeal, nor of your
desire to undertake, and valour to execute things,
where others would find nothing but difficulties. Ac
cept of my sincere congratulations, and tho’, on the
present occasion, you will receive many, having so
highly merited them, I hope that you will not be in
different to the testimony of a stranger, who resides at
four hundred eagues difiance from your excellency,
and for whose honour, bravery, and patriotism, he
proftffes the utmof lefteem. I intreat your excellen
cy, that in recollecting me, you will always believe me,
My dear general,
Your's, mod affectionately,
JOSEPH.
At Vienna, March 5, 1782.
It was yesterday reported upon 'Change, that the
principal merchants of this metropolis will be convened
in a few days, for the purpose of deliberating upon the
means of teflifying their gratitude to fir George Rod
ney, to whose bravery they are indebted, for the Safe
ty of their immense possessions in the island of Jamaica.
A Superb Service of plafeds said to be among other pre
sents intended for the brave veteran.
Advice is received from Carrickfergus in Ireland, that^
the crew of the Dutch privateer attempted to land
there early in the morning of the 10th inflant, which
was no Sooner perceived by the inhabitants than the
drum beat to arms, the people affembted, and the few
troops that were there, and lined the Shore, which
flruck Such a pannick on the Dutch that they got on
board their vessel as faft as possible, and took care to
lie out of the reach of the few guns of the battery :
an express was immediately sent to Londonderry, that
if any armed vessels were lying there that they might
go in quest of them.
The Ganges is come out of dock, coppered ; she is
one of the Seventy-fours given to government by the
EaR India company - ,the other two are the Bombay
Castle, and the Carnatic; the firft of which will be
launched in June and the latter in July next.
May 23. Mons. le marquis Fouquet is just arrived
in London, commissioned from the court of France, to
take a handsome furnifhel house for the count de Graffe
and his suite, whose arrival in England may be hourly
expected.
It it said, the Cabinet have lately come to a resolu
tion tomake the grand duke and dutches of Russia a for
mal invitation, by letter, from the king and queen, to
come to London, in their way from Paris to Peterfburgh.
It was done at the suggestion of the marquis of Rock
ingham.
Since theist of January laA, eleven thousand French,
American and Spaniffi prisoners have been exchanged
by cartel from Great-Brirain ; (even thousand flill re
main to be exchanged.
ExtraH of a letter from Plymouth, June 4.
" Admiral Cambell has hoisted his flag on board the
Portland, and made a signal for Newfoundland.
" A Rortugueze vessel arrived at Spithead yePer
day, with a positive account, -that he passed the Spa
nidi and French fleets, confining of 27 fail of the
line."
May rl. The Portugueze fleet preparing in the Ta
gus amounts to eleven (ail of'the line ; these are to fail
upon a cruize some time in June; but all the Lisbon,
letters agree, there is no expectation of any hostilities
commencing in that quarter, as all differences with the
court of Spain have been amicably accommodated.
Extract of a letter from Geffert, May 24.
",Many private letters were received yeflerday from
lord Howe, confirming his being off the Texel, and
that tee Dutch fleet were in the Texel."
This morning an express arri.ed at the admiralty
from the commander of a private (hip of war, slating,
that he had fallen in off the coast of France, with a
large fleet of transports, 'laden with military flotes,
and bound to the isle of Rhe, in France, where a con
voy was waiting to receive them, and proted them in
their passage to the East-Indies, where they were des
tined. The privateer captured one of them, from
which die obtained the above information; and the
names of the convoy were the Diftateur and Suffifant,
each 0(74 guns ; the lading of the transport was very
valuable, confining, amongst other things, of upwards
of 20) ton of guns powder. The express farther menti
ons, that the privateer and her prize fell in soon after
wards with the fquadrbn under the command of ad
miral Kempenfelt, to whom he gave the information.
The admiral made an immediate signal for a general
chace,and the account Rates, that there was the greatest
probability of his coming up with them.
A letter from Rotterdam fays, that they have re
ceived advice that two Swedish (hips which were bound
there from Norway, loaded with masts, hemp, tar, &c.
are taken by force Engifh cruizers in the North sea,
but have not learned where they were carried in; and
that they are informed the Swedes will claim them, as
being neutral ships, and laden with their own property,
though, they were bound to Holland, being a market
for that fort of goods.
June 3. Letters were on Friday received from admiral
Kempenfelt, who informs, that he had resumed his old
Ration off Brest, and that the enemy remained perfect
ly quiet in harbour. He had been informed, however,
by his reconnoitering frigates, that the French we e in
greater force than the private information had repre
sented them, and he therefore requests an augmentation
of two fail of the line as a reinforcement to his squad
ron. This request has been complied with, and orders
have been sent to Plymouth for immediately dispatch
ing the addition solicited.
A letter from Oftend has the following article:
“ Contrary to our expectations, t ade here seems to
be in a flourifhing Rate. The goods wh^ch lay for
some time in our warehouses are fold off; our build
ings are going forward again, and many families who
returned to Holland, expecting soon that there would
be a peace with England, are come back, finding that
the Dutch make such demands, that it is imagined will
not be complied with. Our port is full of vessels, and
more are fitting out for the merchants service as faft as
possible; and I doubt not, but in a few years, trade
from all parts will flow into this 1 place. We<xped the
emperor during the course of the summer, to view our
new buildings, &c."
Admiral Pigot has not had the fortune to distinguish
himfelf by any extraordinary exploit, but he is known
to be an expert and judicious seaman, and when in an
inferior flation, he acquired great reputation for intre
pidity and fortitude; but since his advancement to his
present command, those qualities have not been put
to any severe trial. M. de Bougainville, is more cele
brated in France for hi^ nautic (kill and enterprising
spirit in making difeoveries, than for any great at-
Vhievements, and yet he is efleemed a man of intrepi
dity. If de Bougainville should succeed de Graffe, the
French and English fleets will be under commanders of
about an equal standard in point of reputation, as in
deed they were before the late engagement, which ter
minated so gloriously in favour of this country, de
Graffe being not less popular in France than Rodney
in England.
The fleet from the Elbe, with foreign troops, was to
have failed the firft instant, so that they may be very
fyon expeßed to arrive, especially as lord Howe's fta
tiOT iwill entire their fafety from the enemy.
June 4. By the return at the admiralty from the dif
ferent sea-ports, we are happy to learn, that a number
of men have been obtained by the late press, which
will enable government to fend those (hips to sea which
are now ready, only waiting for hands; force tenders
are gone to Ireland on the farce service, from whence
they exped a large body, as several fllips have lately
arrived there from America.
June 5. The late resolutions of both houses of par
liament of Great-Britain, relative to the affairs of Ire
land, have given universal fatisfaftion through the lat
ter kingdom ; the people seem to be affected by it,
even to a degree of intoxication; their feelings towards
England cannot be better expressed than in the words
of the volunteers of Munster, assembled at Mallow,
where delegates from eighty-fix corps attended ; it was
there resolved unanimously, « That it is the earnest
wish, and it mufl ever be the glory of Irishmen, to be
connected with Great-Britain, by friendship never to
be broken ; by affeaions never to be changed ; by in
terests never to be Separated.'’
June 6. Government have received advice from the
Elbe, that the foreign troops were all embarked on
board the transports, and that they were to fail from
thence the firfl fair wind after the 2d instant. Imme
diately after the arrival of these troops, lord Howe
will leave hie Ration off the Texel, and proceed from
thence with the Vidory of 100 guns, the Britannia of
100, the Ocean 90, and the Queen of 98, to join ad
miral Kempenfelt, leaving the following Ships in the
North seas, under the brave admiral Ross, to watch
the motions of the Dutch, viz.
Guns. Guns.
Princefe Amelia, 80 Raifonable, 64
Cambridge, 80 Beinfaifant, 64
Edgar, 74 .Buffalo, 60
Alexander, 74 Rippon, ' 60
Dublin, 74 Panther, 60
In the house of commons in Ireland, on Tuesday
May 28, the order of the day was called for and read,
for going into a committee, to confider of the resolu
tion for granting 100,000!. to the lord lieutenant, foe
railing 20,000 men for aiding bis majefty' anavy.
After Several gentlemen pfropofing different modes for
railing the men, it was proposed by fir Boyle Rocha
to enlist Roman catholics ; which was approved by the
houte as a .wife and salutary measure; and hoped the
Roman catholics would exert themselves. The moti
on was agreed to unanimously.
Count de Guichen is certainly returning to Brest, to
take the command of the French fleet; he has Seven
fllips of the line with him, and there are 11 more just
ready for sea at that port, which make his fleet 18 fail
of the line.
The following is a comparative view of the force of
fir John Rofs's squadron, now blocking up the Texel,
and that of the Dutch iu the harbour :
English. Dutch.
One of - - . 90 ! One of - - - . 26
Two of - - 80 Three of - - - - 68
Two of - - - 74 Twoof - - .- 64
Two of - - 64 I One of - - - 60
Two of - - - 60 I Four of - - - 54
Extract of a letter from Gibraltar, April 6.
" On the night of the 28th ult. we set fire to the
enemy's new work, lately erefled to supply the place
of the one we deflroyed some time ago. A Shell from
Willis's battery set it in a blaze, and it continued
burning for fix hours; the enemy made various at
tempts to extinguish the fire, but to no purpose, at
we brought no less than 150 pieces of ordnance, can
non, mortars, &c. to bear upon the works. Numbers
were seen to fall in endeavouring to cut through it, to
prevent the fire communicating to their other batteries.
Fortunately for them the wind was weflerly; had it
blown from eaR, their whole works must have been
consumed. A deserter came in to us on the 2d instant.
From the enemy's additional encampments lately, and
other circumflances, it is supposed they mean to make
a Rorm; but the garrison being perfectly healthy, and
in the best Spirits, we are under no a pprehenfions."
June 8. There was a report this day at Change, that
an officer would fail to-morrow in a frigate for Charlef
town, with dispatches for the commanding officer at
that place, directing him to embark the troops under
his command, and proceed immediately for the Weft-
Indies ; as many of the inhabitants rs pleased might
go to New York, or vessels were to be provided by go
vernment to bring them and their effeds to Europe.
The keels of the following Ships are now beginning
to belaid down in the king's yards: Umpire, 100 guns;
Venerable. 74; Vanguard, 74; Modefte, 64; and Al
liance, of 64.
Wednesday night an officer came express to the ad
miralty, with an account of the Cerberus frigate, cap
tain Man, being just arrived from Gibraltar, having in
her way Spoke with several fail, and that from the in
formation ti,ey gave, it appeared that the Spanish fleet:
had failed from Cadiz, in company with the comte de
Guichen, who, with Seven fail of French men of war,
was on his way to Brest, Their departure from Cadiz
was so sudden, that it was supposed their object must
be to obtain a proper equipment for the damaged (hips,
the yard at Cadiz not being able to Supply Pores even
for the Spanish Squadron. A very malignant disorder
prevailed in the fleet previous to its failing.^
Difpatcbes were at the fame time received at the se
cretary of Rate's office, from general Elliott, giving an
account of the vigorous preparations the enemy were
making, and containing a state of the garrison; the
principal want of which was frefh provisions.
The dispatches which have been received at the ear!
of Shelburne's office from general Elliott, brought by
the Cerberus frigate from Gibraltar, contain the agree
able assurance, that the garrison is in good health, but
speak very feelingly of the hard duty which the troops
experience, from the smallness of their number, and
the immense fortifications they are compelled to attend.
With refpefl to frefh provisions, the governor fays they
are well Supplied by the Barbary Bates, but they are
purchased at So dear a rate, that the private men are
very barely furnifh^d with them.
The folk wing information oa the fubjeft of the late
negociation for a peace, may be depended upon:
" At the accession of the present ministry, who had