The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-01-20 00:00:00, page 2

From the St. lames's Chronicle, of July rgth, 17^
EXECUTION DAY.
T HE following true but dreadful picture of execu
' tion Jay will, I hope, be fufficient to shew why a
thorough reformation should take place, not only i n
Newgate, but in the manner in which the unhappy
wretches, are conducted from thence to the place of
Execution.
When the day arrives in which the condemned cri
minals are ro fuffer, and have only that one morning
to live, one would expert to fee, not only the unhappy
criminals impressed with a deep sorrow,, and fliewing
the strongest signs of a thorough contrition, but that
every person present would appear in silent sadness.
The reverfa however, is the case ! the horrid afpeds
of turnkeys and jailors, in discontent and hurry ; the
sharp and dreadful looks of Rogues that beg in irons,
but who with to rob you if they could ; the bellow
ing of half a dozen names at a time to enquire after
one another, the variety of strong voices, howling in
one place: scolding, quarelling, and swearing in ano
ther; loud bursts of laughter in a third; the substan
tial breakfafts that aremade'in the midst of these scenes
of horror ; the feds of beerand'gin that are fwal!ow
ed: the incessant outcries for more; the bawling an
swers made by tapfiers; the impudent and unfeafoa
able jests; their dirty hands, and general naflinefs;
with the oaths and imprecations echoed from every
quarter of the jail, added to the melancholy noise of
chains and fetters differently founding; would com.
pose all together one of the most horrid fpeftacles the
eyes of thinking men can behold ! yet how much more
terrifick is this dreadful scene rendered by the be
haviour of the men just setting off for execution, who
are madly drinking, or uttering the vilest ribaldry,
and jeering others that are less impenitent, while the
ordinary buttles among them, and fllifting from one
to another, diflributea scraps of good counsel to in
attentive bearers, and near him the hangman, impa
tient to be gone, (wears at their delays!
At lift out they set, and with them a torrent of mob
bursts through the gate; among which are the idlest of
holiday-makers, such as 'prentices and journeymen of
the meanest trades, and as the day is publickly an
nounced a week before in the papers, all the thieves
and pickpockets of both sexes flow meet with that fe
curi y which large mobs are a Lifeguard to, so that this
becomes a jubilee day for all offenders who d?re not
appear on any other, and this confufion resembles a free
mart, where there is an amnesty for all outlaws.
The way from Newgate to Tyburn now becomes one
continued fair for whores, rogues, and the meanest
rabble, and there are none so lewd, so vile, or so in
digent, of either sex, but may find a paramour. Where
the crowd is the thinnest the mob are the rudest, and
dead dogs, cats, &c. fly about, and are deemed excel
lent pastime; for they have no enemies to encounter
but cleanliness and good manners; the nearer they ap
proach the gallows the more the disorder encreafrs ;
blows are flruck, heads are breke, and pieces of swing
ing flicks are hurled about ; these, with the found of
different noises, and variety of outcries that are heard
on every fide, make up a difeerd not to be paralleled.
It is possible (though barely so) that a man of ex
traordinary holiness, by anticipating the joys of Hea
ven, might embrace a violent death in such raptures
as would dispose him to the singing of psalms ; but to
require this exercise, or to expert it from every wretch
that comes to be hanged, is wild and absurd; fright
ful and impertinent! during all this time there is a
possibility of a pardon arriving, and, in all the crimi
nals opinion, a great probability ; this fad clog hangs
upon their minds till their body hangs, and prevents
their preparing themselves for death so well as they
otherways would. At length the ordinary and the exe
cutioner, having both performed their different duties,
with little ceremony, and equal concern, seem tired,
and glad it is over. This tragedy being ended, a frefh
fray 'arifes between the mob ani the surgeons, about
the property of the dead bodies, and the morning a
musement ends with broken heads, bloody noses, and
now and then the Loss of more lives than died by the
halter!
Bath, June 25.
LONDON, July 21.
LORRD George Gordon is to be indited next term
for conPruaive treason, under the clause in the
^8: " oflevying war against the King." The counsel
for the crown maintain, that to the establishment of
such a charge, it is not necessary to prove that the
prifon^r made use of the arms, instruments, array and
operations common in war; but in the language of
lord Long ' borough, that “ numbers supplied the
want of arms."
Intelligence from LLOYD's LIST.
Jure 13. The Diana, Webber, from Lilbon to New
foundland, is taken by the Nymph, French frigate of
40 guns, coming from Cape Francois, who burnt the
Diana, and carried the captain and crew into Ereft.
The Achilles, privateer of Folkftone, captain Yaw
kins, has sent into Portsmouth the Be Vrow Anna,
from Bayonne to Ferrol, with 1234 barrels of pork,
433 barrels of flour, and some wine, &c.
The George, Thomas, from London to Dublin, was
taken off the Lizard the 29th ult. by the Black Prin
cess privateer of Boston, and ransomed for 10001. The
privateer took captain Thomas as hostage, and the ves
sel is arrived in Fifhgard road.
Taken and ransomed by the Duc D'Efliffac.
The Swift of Peterhead, for 150 guineas: the Success
of Kincardine, 300 ditto; The Charming Nelly of
Sunderland, 150 ditto; the Elizabeth of Aberdeen,
115 ditto; the Swan of Campleton, gooditto ; the ran
forners arrived at Dunkirk.
Taken and ransomed by the Jackall.
The Elizabeth of Aberdeen, for 80'guineas.
June 16. The Hannah, Hinchinough, from Fyal to
New York, was taken the 29th of March by an Ame
rican privateer, and sent for New London.
The Bat er, from Amherdam to Brest, is taken
and sent into Plymouth, by the Ligbthorfe privateer.
La Fortune, from Cape Frncois for Bourdeaux, la
den with sugar, cotfee, indigo, &c. is taken and sent
into Dartmouth by the Friendship privateer of that
port, captain Abrahams:.
The Hope, Potter, failed from Liverpool for Africa
in February last, and was taken by the French fleet
and carried, into Martini'co.
The Elizabeth Gunfley, White, from London to
Quebec, is retaken by the Mary and Greyhound pri
vateers and sent into Mountfbay.
Portsmouth, July 7. The Sally and Rachel priva
teer, captain Hayes, of London, has taken and sent
into Falmouth, the Emanuel, from. Riga to Marseilles,
with wheat, cordage, &c. She has also taken and
sent into Weymouth, the Friendship, from Peterfburgh
to Bourdea ux,of 250 tons, lad-n with hemp and iron.
The Chance, Robertson, from Jamaica to Georgia,
under convoy of'the Jamaica man of war, overLt in a
violent gale of wind off Montego-bay. The people
were saved by the boat belonging to the Amity-hall,
captain Tarbet-
The John, Rawson, from Memel, is arrived at White
haven, after being taken by the Princess (supposed
Black Princess) off the 'Clyde, and ransomed for 10001.
Shetland, June 28. Three 32 gun frigates, and three
sloops of 18 guns each, all French and American ships
of war, have been on this coast finee the 25th instant,
and nre profeffedy intended to cruize here, 011 pur
pose to intercept our Greenland and Streights St.
Davis trade, as well as for our homeward bound Arch
angel, Norway and Baltic trade.
The William and John, Ramsey, from Whitehaven,
arrived at Waterford the 7th instant. On the 4th, she
was taken four leagues weft of Tufcar, by the ^lack
Princess, and ransomed for 500 guineas. The priva
teer had in company a lugger of 4 carriage and 16 swi
vel guns.
The brig Nancy, , from London to Quebec is
retaken and sent into Bristol by the Mercury privateer.
The Vigilant, Bound, from Milford, is arrived at
Pool, after being taken off Durleftone-bay, by a
French row-boat, and ransomed for 4501.
The Providence, Pagan, from Liverpool to Chep
flow, was taken off Bardfey, by the Flower of May,
and ransomed for 300 guineas.
The Dartmouth, Giles, from Limington for Dart
mouth, was taken and ransomed for 60L
Elsinore, July 8- The Chatham and convoy failed
the 24th ult. The 6th the British ships that arrived
from London, seven in number, about 50 leagues from
Yarmouth, fell in with two privateers, one of 22 guns
under French colours, and the other 18 guns under
American colours, who they engaged and beat off.
The Jenny and Bracket have (offered a good deal in
their masts and rigging, and had three men wounded.
The convoy from Hull and Shields are in the Cattag t.
The Nancy and Peggy, Cload, from Riga, is arriv
ed at Park-gate, after being taken the Bth instant, off
the Calf of Man, by the Black Frincefs privateer, and
ransomed for 6001. Captain Cload fays, they burnt a
fine brig in his fight, and told him they had burnt a
finer ship the day before, and that it was quite a matter
of indifference to them, that they would as soon burn
or fink as ransom ; that they had 22 ransomers on board.
After they had done with him they made fail for Scot
land, to meet other ships that were coming. Captain
Cload fears they could not escape.
ANBCD 0 T E of the LADIES.
AT Bristol, is an idiot, commonly known by the
name of Foolish Tom, and who, for his quiet sim
plicity, gets a maintenance from the humane of that
place. Some little time since, two young females, who
had often entertained themselves with t.e fellow's na
tural simplicity, on feeing him come towards them, one
exclaimed to the other, here comes poor Tom, well
divert ourselves with him a little, and give him six
pence. After they had fufficiently pleased themselves,
they gave him the money, which the poor fellow turn
ed and turned, looking upon the bosom of the lady
who gave it, which lay panting under a handkerchief,
too thin to be called an apology for covering : after he
had gazed repeatedly on the money and the bosom,
the fellow broke silence with " here, woman, take thy
money back, andbuy thyfelf a neckcloth !" Confufion
and blushes were the confequenee of this unexpected
reproof, and had so good an effed on the ladies, that
they, from that time, difeontinued those practices so
inimical to that invaluable gem, true female delicacy.
Observe this, my fair country women, and know that
a Bristol example is worthy your imitation.
An Electioneering Anecdote. —At a late election on a
vacancy for a borough in the weft of England, one of
the candidates went into a barber's shop and desired to
be shaved. While Strap was busy in his vocation, the
candidate told him who he was, and expatiated large
ly on the advantages that would arise to the borough
if he was elected. The barber heard him patiently,
and on his giving him a ten pounds bank note for be
ing trimmed, offered him his vote. Soon after the de
parture of the firft candidate, his antagonrft came to be
shaved, talked as elegantly as the former, but gave a
twenty pound bank note for being trimmed. On the
poll the barber voted for the latter. The former, how
ever, followed him, and said, " Strap, don't you re
" member that you shaved me?" " Yes, fir, replied
“ the barber, but I shaved- the other gentleman since.
" and his beard was twice as long."
The following (tak^ from a Jamaica Paper of the 15th
of July last,) may serve to throw some light on the
character of the British Admiral Sir PETER PAR
KER, noted for his furious attack of and difgrare
ful repulse at Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, in
June 1776.
To Sir P P -.
WERE the history of the Brtifh admirals to un
dergo the most fever? fcrutiay, refpeDing pub
lic condu.fl, I believe all mankind would allowyou the
firft place in the line of meanness, rapacity, and weik
nefs. When we calmly look through the period you
have possessed this flation, we find you uniform in de
grading the officer and the gentleman into the pirate
and the buccaneer. Might i presume, fir P- — —r,
to enter your closet in the cool recess you have cho
fen from the public business, I would ask you,
if it was the hereditary reputation of the house of Lut
trell, that firft pointed him out as the hero of Omoa, or.
was it his parliamentary opposition to every measure
of government, that received your approbation to &
conduit which every officer in your fleet declares infa-..
mous. The history of yonr fkg, has, lam afraid, ne
ver recovered the bains of Sullivan's Island. Did you.
raise its reputation by the valiant cruise through the^
Gulph, with the firongeft fleet in these seas? what in
the name of treachery, can you answer to the bring
ing two of the most capir I mips of b e squadron into
port, to protest your dear person? could not your
pique to me gallant Cornwallis, have been eftahlifhed.
at lefs.than a national expence, or your character pro
perly exhibited to mankind, without your refufal to
fee the officer who so gallantly fought the Janus ? does
the creating every boy in the fl et a matter and com
mander, in prejudice of the firft officers in the navy,
serve to ftrengtheq the fabl fliade or, perhaps, you
depend for reputation to the confirmation of C. H.
who so gallantly defended Omoa., Were I your friend
fir P r, weak as you are, I would even dare to give
you counsel ; I would tell you, -that the firfi point of
your duty, was to defend the trade and property of
this island, to strengthen the hands of government,
and avoid the denomination of being the tool of a ve
ry despicable party. I would advise you to take a
view of the conduct of the gallant Rodney, and instead
of the mean security ofa terra firma mountain, to face,
your enemy on their own coafis. L-y the diftaff aide
and let not the faying of admiral Gayton, your gal
lant predecessor, be verified; [am sure, if he could
not a better admiral, you are in the public opi
nion held in equal contempt and detestation.
JUNI U S.
“ It is not in my. power to express to you our pre
sent wretched situation; on Tuesday night the 10th
of ORober, the wind came round to the N. W. and
blew very frefh from that quarter all night, at sun
rise it came rather more to the Westward, and the
gale encreafed and by 9 o'clock, 15 vessels in the bay
were drove sfhore: 150 men were drowned, belonging
to a Frencli armed brig ; the Juno, a fine frigate was
loft, but al! her hands saved. The gde still encreafed
until 12 o'clock, and thea, 1 may fay, there was ne
ver such a scene exhibited as from that hour 'till four
o' lock in the afternoon. From, the Church to doctor
Connor's there was not the leafi part ofa house or e
veu a wall left; numbers of poor people lay shrieking
under the ruins. d<>lno person dared to go out to their
assistance. All that could,were obliged to fly up to
the high land to save themselves from the flood, which
overflowed almost the whole town ; the wind began to
abate about 5 o'clock, but it still rained without in
termission. In this situation we remained until Thurs
day morning the 12th, when the sea and weather mo
derated, but such an appearance of wretchedness was
never seen, it was enough to pierce the most obdurate
heart; the greatest part of the town is in total ruins,,
few people had places to screen themselves from the
rain, ,which continued for two days after. Our provi
sions,. flock and cloaths are washed into the sea ; no
body knowing where to apply for bread to fatisfy the
wants of nature : fortunately two merchants had land
ed a cargo of provisions a few days before, which was
unhurt, and which was of infinite relief to us. Gene
ral Du Montet was in the country sick; the house and
every building was blown away, and he was exposed
to the weather in the open paflure all night. He feels
as much for our situation as we can do ourselves. The
country has fuffered as much as we have in town ;
there are only five people in the whole island that have
saved their works ; numbers of negroes are killed, and
all the sugar made this crop walked away. In Tru
makia one Mr. Mufeman had a large strong house
which flood the wind, and every body in that valley
took Shelter there, to the amount of about 45 people;
all the windows and doors were nailed up, when the
flood came down and carried the house into the sea,
and all the people perished except two, who were taken
up the next day from the roof. The whole country
looks as if it had been destroyed by fire, not a leaf
handing upon a tree.''
The following Proclamations, lately publiflied in So:,
Carolina, are additional proofs of the benefit those
deluded people receive who, truftihg to the great
promises from time to time held out by the British
commanders in America, have (übmiLed to take pro
tedion, in hopes of enjoying their property urr ^o
lefted. They have not even the enjoyment of the
common privileges of the most enslaved p ople on
earth, while their protestors (as they stile themselves)
remain among them : they forfeit the efleem and con
fidence of their fellow citizens, and, after the course
of a few months (for they have never continued lon
ger at any place, except New York) are left exposed
to the justice of their injured countrymen, who had
virtue enough to refill the temptation. Let every
tory and lukewarm whig throughout the continent,
recoiled for a moment, whether this has not been li
terally the case at Bofion, New-Port, Philadelphia,
Virginia, Carolina and Georgia.
South-Carolina : By lieutenant colonel Nisbet BAL %
four, commandant at Charleftown, Ac. &c.
A proclamation.
WHEREAS I have received information, that
large quantities of gold and silver coin have been
exported and sent out of this province by persons using
trade and commerce, to the prejudice of his m jefty's
service, as well as a raanifeft detriment of the commu
nity ; for prevention whereof, I do issue this my Pro
clamation, hereby ftriftly prohibiting the like practi
ces in future, on penalty of forfeiting all such gold
or silver coin which fhail be attempted to be exported
and sent out of this province, by any person or per
sons whomsoever, one moiety, or half part thereof, for
the benefit of the informer, on conviction di the of
fender or offenders, and the other moiety, or half part
thereof to the use of his majesty.
St. J O H N's (in Antigua) Nov. 14, 1780.
Extract of a letter from St. Vincent.