The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-10-30 00:00:00, page 2

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.
CONSTANTINOPLE, July 27.
INTELLIGENCE has been received from Bombay,
dated the 7th of April, (transmitted from Baffora
in a letter dated the 27th of June) that the French fqua
% dron had left the Coromandel coast the beginning of Fe
kbruary and returned to the ill Inds ; and that Hyder A 1&
rcy, distressed for provisions, and harraffed by general
|%oote, by whom he had been defeated in several ikir-
Fniiflies, had been obliged precipitately to abandon the
F Carnatic. London gaz.
Toulon, July 28. The report spread about, that
' the Spaniards are going to take the island of Minorca,
causes a general joy in all the ports of the Mediter
ranean; for from that island swarms of privateers
come out that have annoyed us with impunity since
the beginning of the war ; and we shall fee with fatis
fadien the period arrive that is to put an end to their
depredations.
Cadiz, July 24 The winds having permitted the
combined fleet to fail, the prepared for going out on
the 21st in the morning, to the number of 49 (hips of
the line, but were kept back by the calm, so that they
remained in fight the whole day. The wind freshening
towards evening, the fleet quitted the bay, and yes
terday were at a great diftanct. They seemed to fleer
the fleet towards the weft, the armament so the
Straits, so that we shall soon know, whether it be Gib
raltar or Minorca that is menaced, but the latter is mod
probable. The fleet was divided into five divisions, the
three firft of which were under Don Cordova, and
two under the count de Guichen
St Roch, July 25. It was hitherto thought, thit
the fleet arming at Cadiz, was defined for the siege of
Gibraltar; butnow we are undeceived. It has been
seen from hence palling the Straits, to the number of
60 fail. A favourable wind from the weft, which ar^fe
ver seasonably, carried them out of fight, so that by
noon we saw nothing of them, and there is no d>ubt
but their destination is for Manon. The wind continu
ing still favourable, it is hoped the passage will be
performed in three days, though it be more than 150
leagues.
Madrid, August 3. By a courier just arrived from
the camp at St. Roch, we learn, that the armament
under the command of the duke de Crillon, was in the
middle of the freight of Gibraltar the 25th of July at
{even in the morning: it was composed of two (hips
of the line, two frigates, two bomb ketches, two xe
beques, and thirty transport (hips, having on board
groo effective men. They had a favourable wind, which
if it continued, would carry them to Minorca in three
or four days. The objed of that expedition is no
longer a secret. We now think it certain that the fleet
is going to Mahon, to reduce the island and destroy
that swarm of English privateers which the port con
tains. The fort of St. Philip, the only one in conditi
on to make a long refinance, will be invested in such
a manner, that it must soon surrender, if France thinks
proper to join some troops toours ; and tho' it should
be intended only to form the blockade, this expedition
would still be of great use, since it would prevent Mi
norca from supplying Gibraltar, as it has hitherto
done, and which we have been obliged to fuffer, for
want of a certain number of cruizing ships in the Me
diteranean. ,
Paris, August 9. It is the general opinion here, that
the expedition from Cadiz is intended for a defeent on
Minorca, to take possession of the island, and inter
cept all communication with the fort of St. Philip, in
order to reduce it by famine.
,Aug. 14. The duke de Crillon's two sons set off this
morning, with leave of his majefly and the king of
Spain, to serve in the army under their father They
are to embark at Toulon for the Mediterranean.
Amsterdam, August 15. The 13th of this month
the following ships arrived (on their return from the
North Sea) in the port of the Texel, viz. the admiral
de Ruyter, rear admiral Zoutman, the admiral Piet
Heyn captain Van Braam ; the admiral general, capt.
Chevalier de Kintbergen ; the Batave, captain Baron
de Bentiuk; the Hereditary Prince, captain Braak;
and several frigates. Q,,
The following is a lift of the killed and wounded on
board our fleet:
The admiral de Ruyter had 43 killed and 90 wounded.
Admiral General, 7 killed and 41 wounded.
Batave, the Baron de Bentick mortally wounded,
18 killed 48 wounded.
Argo, II killed, 87 wounded.
Hollande, 70 killed and wounded.
Admiral Piet Heyn, 9 killed, 58 wounded.
Dauphin, 3 killed, 12 wounded.
Total, 116 killed—3Bl wounded.
There have been just sent to the Texel 250 (hip-car
penters to repair our squadron.
The wounded will be received into our great hopita!,
where beds, &c. preparing for them.
Lieutenant Storm had an arm and both his legs (hot
Young Maclain, son of Mr. Maclain, the English
clergyman, at the Hague, had his head taken off by a
cannon (hot. , , „ □ L j
The baron de Bentink has loft an arm and had all
his shoulder Ihivered. His life is difpaired of.
Bristol, August 22. Lad week a sloop that had been
discharging tea at Newton was taken oh Hartland
point by a French privateer; and within these few days
„ other vessels have been taken off the fame place;
the captain of one of them, named Tudball, of Mine
head, offered to ransom his vessel for 600 L but was re
fufed.
LONDO N, August 24.
A letter from Mahon brings advice that they having
gained intelligence there that the Spaniards had some
Mention of attacking that fort, the governor has had
all the fortifications examined to fee it they are in a
good condition, and has added some new works to it,
and drawn in all the provisions from the island he could
• and as the girrifon are healthy and in good spi
rits 'he thinks he shall be able to hold out againti any
force the Spaniards can bring against it for five months.
It was a singular cusurnftance, that during the late
royal visit at Sheerness, that as admiral Parker's fleet
were fainting his majefiy, that an Ame ican privateer
was brought in just time enough to joi? in the salute,
and offered new pleasure to the fpeftators. This priva
teer is one of the moll beautiful and fatteft failing vef
fels that the Americans could boafl of ; (he was taken
-by the Queen Charlotte private (hip of war, of Lon
don, mounting 30 guns, nines and fixes, and having
162 men.
After all the noise that has been made about the late
engagement with tne Dutch in the North Sea, there ap
pears no great room for exultation on our part. On the
contrary, there seems rather to be a matter of con
cera ; as on reading admiral'Zoutman's account of that
affair, it will be found, not only that we had an equal
number ot ships with the enemy, contrary t) what had
been represented, but likewise that we exceeded them
in number of guns. For the fatisfaHion of those who
may not take the trouble of examining the matter
for themselves, a Correspondent has sent us the fol
ing lifts of the number of ships, and refpeaive forces
of each squadron. The account of that part of admiral
Parker's fleet, which only seems to have been engaged,
is taken from the London Gazette extraordinary,
of the 9th inflant ; and that of the Dutch squadron
from admiral Zoutman's letter to the prince of Orange,
as pubidhed in this paper.
From the above flatement, and it is taken from the
very bed authority on both sides, it appears that the
Britilh fleet carried, upon the whole, 34 guns more
than the Dutch; and if we take into the account, that
our ships in general were of much higher rates, it will
appear likewise, th it the weight of metal was greatly
in our favour. Instead, therefore, of boasting of a
vidory, as we seem too precipitately to have done,
there is reason to wonder that the enemy had such an
escape. This, however, is not meant to detract from
the courage or conduct of our admiral or the oncers
serving under him. They certainly all fought well.
But candour must acknowledge, that there is nothing
to make a fubjed of so much eulogy ; and that, if our
people are allowed to have done their best, the Dutch,
all circumflances considered, must be allowed to have
done better. When the matter is so very clear, it
would be ridiculous, as well as ungenerous, to assume
a praise that does not belong to us.
The town of Oftend makes no very inconspicuous fi
gure in history ; the Spaniards besieged it for 3 years,
successively; they facrificed 80,000 men before it: the
Dutch ' also facrificed 50,000. —Isabella Eugenia, go
vernante of the Netherlands, made a vow, that file
would not change her smock till Oftend surrendered.
She kept her promise inviolate ; and before the place
surrendered her fraock was as black as a chimney
(weeper's bag
August 25. This morning an express arrived from
India, which brought the agreeable news, that fir Eyre
Coote had totally routed Hyder Ally.
From a number of concurring circumftanees, there
is great reason to believe the Dutch intend making an
effort to defiroy the ships in the harbours of some of
the towns on the eaflern coast of this kingdom, and
lay the inhabitants under contribution.
A letter from Paris, of a very late date, fays, " We
have now a certain account, that our squadron from
Cadiz, under the command of count Guichen, is fai ed
in company with the Spanish fleet under Don Louis de
Cordova ; the two fleets separated at the mouth of the
Straits; our's to scour the Med terranean of the nu
merous'privateers, and to blockade the island of Mi
norca, and if practicable, to reduce it; the Spaniards
remain fixed in their refutation at Gibraltar, on which
service their whole fleet is employed."
Extfa& of a letter from Cadiz, July 13.
“ A deserter from the 56th regiment, at Gibraltar,
is come over to our camp at St. Roche : his reason for
deserting was, that he had got drunk, and dreading the
punishment that his offence would bring upon him, he
concealed himfelf in the ruins of the town for several
days ; and one night he had the good luck to get down
the wall without being difeovered. He fays they are.
entirely ignorant atGibraltar of what is going forward
at Cadiz, and, coufequently, they know nothing of the
armament that is fitting out here; and as for us, tho'
we fee all the preparations that are making, we cannot
fay positive againtt which place this armament will be
lent—Gibraltar or Minorca.
Ex-rad of a letter from Dover, August 23.
" Tuis morning two gentlemen anded here from
Oftend, by whom we learn, that the Dutch are deter
mined, for the present, to flop all communication with
England, but tnat they had received duplicates of bills
which were to have been sent by the ma s ; they like
wife fay, that the Dutch have sent agents all over Ger
many, to buy up corn and cattle for the use of the
navy ; that they were informed that upwards of 300
(hipwrights are arrived at Amsterdam, who are to be
employed in different provinces, in order to put tneir
navy on a refpeftable footing."
The Tartar, one of the cutiers now under failing or
ders for Gibraltar, was so fuccefsf 4 last March, as to
get into that port through ten ships of the line, which
endeavoured in vain, to oppose her passage. rhe go
vernor was at that time in want of almost every thing,
and was happy at the seasonable supply brought to the
garrison by the Tartar ; not did he fuffer the lowest
man on board to go unrewarded. As soon as (he had
landed her stores lhs put to sea again, failed a second
time through the enemy's fleet and reached Port Ma
hon.
Extrad of a letter from Fowey, in Cornwall, Aug. 19.
" This morning a Dutch privateer was brought in
here, taken by the Cornwall privateer, after an engage.
Britilh fleet-
Guns. Ships.
74 Fortitude
64 Bienfaifant
74 Berwick
80 Princess Amelia
50 Preflon
60 Buffalo
44 Dolphin
446
Dutch fleet.
Guns. Ships.
54 Hereditary Prince
74 Admiral General
44 Argo
54 Batavia
68 Admiral Ruyter
§4 Adm. Piet Heyn
64 Holland
412
ment of half an hour ; the Dutchman bad on boardJwo
ransomers for colliers which he had taken, as he could
not spare hands to put on board them. The Cornwall
is gone in quest of another privateer which was in
company."
The very handsome manner in which admiral Parker
did justice to the merits of the brave captain Macart
ney, who was killed soon after the adion begau, must
give pleasure to every good mind. While he lamented
to his maje ty tie loss of so good an officer, he intro
duced the young Macartney (who is about fifteen) de
claring, that while he had the honour to command one
of his majefty'ofhips, the youth Ihould never be from
his fide.
The gentlemen of Virginia that are to accompany
lord Dunmore (the governor of the province) on his
return, have orders to be ready to embark the firft
week of September.
An article from a rebel paper of the 20th of June
mentions, that from the firft of March to the firft
of June even persons had been executed in Maryland,
convicted of being spies, from their secretly lurking
about in that country.
Advice is received from Leo, in Cornwall, that &
Dutch dagger privateer is taker, and carried into Pen
tyu by the Harper privateer, captain Doncafter: (he
had two ransomers on board for 7001. each.
Admiral Hyde Parker has been in the navy 46 years.
He was a midshipman in 1735, and made a lieutenant
in 1741, when fir Charles Wager was at the head of the
admiralty; in 1747 He was made a master and com
mander, and the succeeding year a post captain, in
which Station he continued till after the commence
ment of the American war. In the year 1777 he was
made a rear admiral of the blue. He is now about
twenty one upon the lift, and at the last promotion be
came vice admiral of the blue.
Admiral Parker's engagement with the Dutch, it to
expected will furnifh matter the ensuing session for some
of our parliamentary orators.
August 23. On Tuesday evening, at eight oWock,
his majesty and the prince of Wales arrived at Windsor
in perfect health, from their naval review, where the
queen and the young princes were waiting for their
arrival.
The fame day admiral Parker was at court to return
thanks to his majesty for the honour conferred on him
by his late visit.
It is reported, le ters from Madrid mention, that
the last hand is positively put to a treaty, offensive
and defenfive, between France, Spain, and the United
States of North America ; this business, which has been
ire hand near two Years, is at length accomplished-
Extras of a letter from Leghorn, July 26.
" The free republics of Switzerland, Genoa, and
Venice, have just renewed their former treaties of alli
ance, which werejuft expiring, for 10 years; by virtas
of which neither of these three States are to let troop#
for hire, or to permit any foreign power whatever to
recruit in their refpeft territories."
Advice is received from Guernsey, that a fifhing
smack is put in there, the master of which reports,
that he saw a fleet of Dutch men of war, confining of
eight fail of the line and five frigates, with some trans
ports, fleering towards St. Maloe's last Thursday ia
the afternoon with a fair wind.
The following intelligence was sent from the cus
tom-house of Dublin to thecuflom-houfe of port-Glaf
gow,and from thence transmitted to the lord provost of
Galfgow.
"S I R, Custom-house, Dublin, Aug. 6.
'• The Commissioners of his majesty's revenue having
this day received intelligence, from the colleftor of Sli
go, in his letter of tne 3d ndlant, tlw,a vessel, which
arrived there that day, had been, on the 29th ult. cap
tured by two American privateers, called the Cicero
and Rambler ; the one of 20 guns nine pounders, the
other of 18 fix jpoynders ; that tae commander said,
that he intended to cruize for some time to the north
ward of Sligo, to intercept the linen ships from London
derry,or some of the outward-bound fllips from Glasgow
to America. I.have the board's commands to commu
nicate this intelligence to you, that 'you may have an
opportunity of acquainting your American traders
thereof, or the commanders of any of his majesty's
Blips cruizing on the coasts of your diflrift. I am.
Sir, &c; &c. Thomas Winder."
“ The Henrietta was.chaced into Loch Swillie by
two American privateers, whohad taken and ransom&
ed several vessels which had arrived there. One of them
is called the Cicero, a (hip mounting 20 guns; the
other a brigantine, called the Rambler, of 18 guns,
belonging to Boflon:'' $
Yeft+rday advice was received from Limerick, by
the Irish mail, that a Dutch privateer ty confiderafe
force in chacing the Nancy, captain Hamilton, into
the Shannon, run on shore by the unfkillfulnefs of the
pilot, and w.s entirely loft ; the crew were taken 011
board another Dutch privateer which was in com
pany.
A number of Danifli officers, who about two years
ago went out in an English fleet to America, in order
to mike a campaign or two in our'lervice, are lately
r turned home passengers, in/confeq uence of an edift
puUiihed some months since at Copenhagen, to fecal
Danish officers, soldiers and seamen, from foreign ser
vice ; they returned home without making any flay 111
this kingdom.
It is laid that fir George Erydges Rodney, bart.
has a grant of 20001. per annum on the Irish pension
lid, just given him.
Edinburgh, Aug. 17 Monday last was married,
at Glasgow, James M'Kenzie, a chelfea pensioner,
aged 100, to Janet Ruliel, aged 24.
IRELAN D.
DUBLI N, September 1.
_. ) Dublin on London 838 1-4
Exchange ) London on Dublin 9
On Thursday night during the heavy (hower of rain
and hail, accompanied with thunder and lightning, a
set of the most execrable villains that ever disgraced
the human form, broke into a gentleman's house in
Mecklenburgh ftreet,and after tying an old couple 10