The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-09-08 00:00:00, page 2

LONDO N, April 5 .
An ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION to all ships of
war and privateers, that have or may have let
ters of marque against the French king, the
king of Spain; or the Rates general of the united
(L. S.)Provinces, their vassals or fubjeXs, or others
inhabiting within any of the countries, territo
ries, or dominions, or against any other ene
mies or rebellious Subjects of the crown of
Great Britain Given at our courtat St. James's,
the twentieth day of April, 1781, in the twenty
firft year of our reign.
WHEREAS we have ever been desirous to pre
vent interruption being given to the tradeand
commerce of every state in amity with us, as far as
was compatible with the necessary operations of war ;
and whereas it will tend very much to that purpose
that the trade and navigation of the Baltic, should re
main uninterrupted ; we have therefore been pleased to
resolve, that as long as the trade of our fubjeXs (hall
continue to be secured in those seas, our ships of war,
privateers, and other vessels ading under our commis
sion, Ihall be restrained from making prize of, stopping,
cr detaining any ship or vessel within the Baltic: and
we do hereby ftriXly charge and enjoin the comman
ders of our ships of war, and the commanders of all
ships and vessels having letters of marque and repri
sal, that they do not, by virtue of their commissions,
or under colour thereof, stop or detain any ship or vef
fel in the Baltic, for the purpose of making prize of the
fame, but that they fuffer all such ships or vessels as
they Ihall meet in those seas, to proceed on their re
fpe&ive voyages, without interruption.
By his majesty's command.
STORMONT.
April 6. We are informed, from good authority,
that the dispatches, received a few days ago, from the
court of Raffia, are friendly to the cause of Great-Bri
tain, though they contain certain flipulations which are
expected to be complied with in the ensuing treaty,
which fir Joseph Yorke is gone to Vienna to haftea and
tffeftuate on the part of his Britannic majesty.
May 15., Last Thursday the crew of the Cologne,
which was captured by the Berwick and Belle Poule,
were marched from Leith to the Cafiie of Edinburgh ;
Mr. Ryan and his firfl lieutenant were carried in a
coach some time after, and were also conducted to the
cattle.
Luke Ryan is about go years of age, and fays, he
should have taken the Belle Poufe if the Berwick had
Dot come up. It is said he would not allow the co
lours of the Cologne to be flruck till he was knocked
down by one of his own men, and he then attempted
to get hold ofa match to blow up the powder and his
Blip. Upon that account he was put io irons till he
arrived at Leith, when he was treated with every de
gree of humanity that could be expected. He fails
under the commission of the king of France, and it is
said five privateers of about the fame force failed from
Dunkirk, to cruise in our seas, of which Ryan was
commodore; and all their figuals were taken on board
Cologne.
May 19. Lateoa Turfday evening an express arriv
ed in town from Leoftoff, in Suffolk, with an account
that fix men of war, besides frigates, supposed to be
Dutch, were within one league of that place ; the con
fleraatton into which their appearance threw the inha
bitants(there being neither ships nor troops to obflruX
their landing) may be easier imagined than described.
The account, however, so alarmed our eagle-eyed mi
niflry, that several expresses were immediately sent off
to the different regiments of miltia, who were on their
march to their several encampments, to change their
routes and go with all possible speed to prevent the mif
ctiefs that might be naturally expected to arise from so
formidable an armament affeßing a landing.
About the fame time arrived another express from
Scotland, with advice that the honourable captain
Keith Stewart, with the ships under his command, was
blocked up in Leith road by a squadron of Dutch men
of war, in consequence of which admiral Parker set off
yeflerday morning at ten o'clock for Spithead, with
orders to take upon him the command of the ships ly
ing there, and to fail immediately for his relief.
Yeflerday the fubferibers to the 12,000,000!. for the
service, of the present year, made good their third pay
ment of ten per cent of the said capital in the bank.
While the Dutch fleets are carrying such universal
alarm round our coasts. We do not learn by the letters
of the day, that admiral Parker is yet failed from Spit
head. The price of insurance is raised 4 per cent.
May 25. The backwardness of fir HeQor Munro, in
not vigorously supporting colonel Baillie, is said to a
rise from a chagrin at the Council's not fortifying the
passes of the Canavi, which are the Thermophylseof
the Carnatic. It is rumoured that fir Heitor insisted
on having strong posts always maintained at those pass
es, as the only means of pteventing the sudden inroads
of Hyder Ali, whose motions were fufpefted some
months before the unfortunate aXion near Madras
But fir Hedor's opinion was opposed and over ruled, al
though it was well known that the court of France had
lent over a vast many presents to Hyder Ah, to bribe
him to take the field against the English and the nabob
of Arcot, the French had likwiCe encouraged all the
Europeans of military merit, to join and discipline
Hyder's army, who treats them with great refpeft, and
has rapidly advanced several to the firft military ho
nours. Had flrong posts been kept at the passes, they
anight have disputed Hyder's inroads for several
months, till fuccours had arrived there from our other
Indian settlements.
Extract of a genuine letter received from an officer in
America, dated Mirch 29, 1781.
“ The late naval action in North-America, had the
good effect of entirely overfetting French and Ameri
can politics, and saving our squadron and army from
falling into their hands. As usual, when actions of
this kind happen, our sea commanders quarrel. Every
body allows more might have beenjdone, as in fliiys we
were superior, having one 98 gun ship for their 80, and
one 50 for their 40 ; the whole brunt of the fight fell on
the Robust, Prudent and Europe, which behaved most
gallantly. The Robust, in particular, turned the van
Qf the French line, and for a considerable time engaged
three ships at once. The Prudent made one line of
battle fliip strike twice to her, but the French admiral
fired some shot into the French ship, and obliged her
to hoist her colours again. The Europe was twice
beat out of the line by an 80 gun-ship, and returned
again. As for the two admirals they had little share pf
the aflion, and the ships a-flern of them never came in,
owing to Arbuthnot's blunder of ordering the signal for
the line at two cables length afinder, and keeping it
up the whole time ; whereas had he hauled it down, our
ships would have each taken one of the enemy's, and
have Huck by her, when, no doubt, almost the whole
of the French fleet would have been taken, funk or de-
Aroyed, as they were in the greatest ,confufion when
they saw oar fleet. Our loss is very trifling in killed
and wounded, not more than 120. The French muff
have loft numbers of men, as their fokliers were fix
deep on the gang way back on the boom."
My 29. It is now said that admiral Darby means
to retire, and that he is to be succeeded in the command
of the grand fleet by admiral Parker.
We hear there will be a perpetual ad of insolvency
to clear all debtory to the time of its passing. those
that are able, it is laid, are, during war, to serve his
majesty either by land or sea. This perpetual all it
is said, will be always in force for debtors, to be 're
lieved Aiordy from their confinement, complying with
the aft; and it is said all prison keepers in future are
to have salaries only, and no fees. This aft will be a
general perpetual aft f insolvency, so that parliament
will be troubled no more, and English debtors will be
on the fame humane footing of all other nations, and
will not be left so long in prison, and have their fami
lier Harving as formerly.
Several injunctions are already moved for by agents
in the court of chancery against the sale of goods as
lawful captures, taken by fir George Brydges Rod'nev
and general Vaughan at St. Euftatia.'
According to government accounts, the number of
prisoners exchanged by cartel with France, since the
commencement of the present war, is 44,000 and up
wards. 1
Advice is received at Bourdeaux of the fafe arrival
of the French Weft.lndia fleet at that port, Rochelle
and Nantz, without the loss of a single fhp. Thepaf
fengers by this fleet report, that the English fleet from
Jamaica would have failed before them, but, as they
were on the point of weighing anchor, a hoop of war
had came down from the windward express from admi
ral Rodney, to countermand their failing, as he had
received advice from Europe that a large fleet of men
of war were about failing for the Weft. Indies from
France, and were probably about that time off or
near the Bahama Islands.
,, r , th ^ there are letters fr °m officers on board
the Belle Poule, one of commodore Keith Stewart's
squadron, which has been cruizing in the north seas
with advice that admiral Hake's squadron of fix fail
ofthe line, and three frigates, were said to be out, sup.
pefed to be convoying the Dutch Baltic fleet. The
Berwick was cruizing on the coast of Norway.
June 5. Yeflerday an express arrived here from
Guernsey with advice that several Dutch transports
were arrived at St. Maloe's, to take on board troops
and that a fleet of Dutch men of war were waiting to
take them under convoy ; that the above intelligence
was learned from a cartel fliip, which had put into
Guernfey.'
His Majesty, we hear, in consideration of the great
increase of parliamentary business this session, has de
termined to grant but a Short recess, and the efore
will not prorogue, but only adjourn the house, by
which means the committee on Eaft.lndia affairs will
be enabled to car y on their enquiries, which other
wise must be dissolved.
Extract of a letter from Newcastle, May 19.
" Last Thursday evening the Mayor of this town
received an account from Balmbrough, that an English
brig, with a few small guns, was that morning attacked
by a smart failing French privateer es 14 fix pounders,
off Balmbrough caflie, and engaged her about two
hours; the brig at length got off by running to the
shore under the castle guns, which obliged the priva
teer to ftieer off, and then the brig got into Holy Island
harbour. Shortly afterwards, the privateer atacked a
nother brig off Sunderland point there : this brig also
engagedthe privateer, and was making towards Balm
brough, the privateer chafing her in a running fight
when the letter came away. The mayor immediately
sent an account of this to Shields, and Sunderland, and
to Stockton, by express, to be forwarded to Whitby,
Scarborough and Hull.
" A letter from Balmbrough, received yeflerday
afternoon, fays, a coasting vessel had taken fanHu
ary under that castle, running from a French priva
teer, and that the privateer sent off her boats to cut
her out but was prevented by captain Horfsil, com
manding a party of the Yorklhire militia, who beat
them off with the assistance of the Castle guns."
Extra& of a letter from the Hague, March 16.
" It is positively said, that the convention conclu
ded between the court ' of France and this republic,
concerning the retaking of the ships oftheir refpedive
fubjeds, arrived here last Friday, signed by his most
chriftian majesty. It is assured, that by this conven
tion, it is stipulated and resolved, that in case the
ships have been retaken by privateers of either nations,
within the space of 24 hours after they had fallen into
the enemy's hands, one half of the capture shall be
long to the captors, and if they are retaken in 24 hours,
the whole shall be the property of the captor; and
that if such ships are retaken within 24 hours, by' ships
of war, the latter shall receive only a thirtieth part:
and only a tenth part after 24 hours."
Edinburgh, May 28. The French have no ships of
any considerable force at St. Maloe's ; all their fllips
of the line have been collected at Brest : from their 0-
ther ports long since, the utmost of their strength in
that quarter consists of a few frigates.
Orders are sent to Cork, in Ireland, to provide imme
diately 12000 tons of provisions for his majesty's ser
vice.
Orders are sent to all the ports of Scotland and Ire
land, where seamen are raised for the use of the navy,
to dispatch with all. expedition to the nearest ports
where any of his majesty's fllips are waiting, to fill
up their complements.
Eight failof vessels are now fitting out at Blackwall
for the Eafblndia company's service, which are order
ed to be compleated for sea with all possible dispatch.
St. J O H N's, (Antigua) July 17.
Sir Samuel Hood's squadron still remains here ; and
it is Gid that another division of the fleet, with their
excellencies fir George Brydges Rodney and general
Vaughan on board, may be hourly expelled.
July 21. On Wednesday last a second division of
fir George Rodney's fleet arrived here, viz. the Sand
wich, (in which the admiral came) the Ajax, the
Torbay, the Intrepid and the Terrible. The whole
12 fail still remains here, and it is supposed will not
leave us for some days.
The homeward bound fleet of merchantmen, it is now
pretty clear, will not take their final departure before
theist of August; and it is presumed the trade be
longing to this island will be permitted to remain here
until very near that day.
The Roebuck packet, commanded by captain Mitch
ell, (cap. Burnaby having flaid at home this voyage)
arrived at Barbados last Sunday, with the June mail
on board, so that we may reasonably expert her here
in a day or two. She brings too certain a confirmati
on of the capture of a great part of the Vengeance's
convoy, but not a syllable of that fplended success for
which we had prematurely fun Te deum.
July 24. On Sunday last a third division of the
fleet arrived here, viz. the Gibraltar (on board of
which came rear-admiral Drake) the Montagu, Prince
William and Pr inceffa: and on the fame day the Belli
queux joined, so that the fleet now here consists of 1,
fail of the line.
The London fleet, under convoy of two frigates and
a sloop of war (two of which are the Fortune and the
Ranger, and the other, as we are informed, but not
with certainty, the Hannibal) arrived at Barbados ore
the 16th in slant.
BASSETERRE, (St. Christopher's) July 21.
The admiral has been expelled here for some days
past, with the Barbados and Antigua fleets; but if it
be true that he is gone to retake Tobago, he may not
be expeded here for some time.
The compt de Graffe's squadron has been gone from
theft seas since the 2d instant, and has taken the French
trade under its care to the Cape. The Frenchman's
policy seems pretty apparent ; he wfli endeavour to get
the French trade near home in fafety, when he may de
tach a part of his fleet to fee them into port, while he,
with the remainder, will lie bye and wait for the fleet
which he has the knowledge will fail soon after him
from these islands. But we hope his plan will not
have the effect he hopes for.
Sir Samuel Hood lias been at Antigua for some days,
with a detachment from the fleet, in order to conduft
the trade down to this island, and to Statia.
This morning early an alarm was fired, on the ap
pearance of some vessels off Nevis, which we imagine
to be part of the homeward bound fleet.
CHRISTIANST^ D, (St. Croix) Aug. I<
We hear from Antigua, that admiral Rodney intend#
for Europe with the trade, the command of the fleet
then devolves on admiral Hood, a part of which it it
said is to fail for A merica.
General Shirley is arrived at Antigua from England
in the London fleet, to take on him the command of
his Britannic majesty's leeward Charribee islands, in the
room of general Burt, deceased.
August 8. Admiral Rodney failed from St. Kitts
on Wednesday last, with the homeward bound fleet
of merchantmen.
Admiral Hood failed at the fame time, with 10 fail
of the line for America, and admiral Drake, with 7
fail of the line, remains in these seas.
Philadelphia, Sept. 6.
The fate of the petition from the Weft-India merchants
and planters to their king, on the general seizure of
property at St. Euhatia, will appear from the fol
lowing advretifement, which is copied from the St.
Chiftopher's Gazette of the 3d of July.
“ Notice is hereby given, that on Monday the 9th
instant, in pursuance of his majesty's order for the ge
neral confiscation of all goods, wares, merchandizes,
and effeds, captured at Saint Euflatius, by his majes
ty's fllips of war, and his army, under the refpeflive
command of fir George Brydges Rodney, baronet, and
K.B. admiral of the white, &c. and the honourable
major general John Vaughan, will be exposed to sale
at Saint Euflatius, all the goods, wares, and merchan
dize, remaining in the dores unfold.
Basseterre, July 3, 1781.”
The following paragraph is taken from a letter
found in a prize lately taken : It is adJreffed to Kin
neth Roote, at Charleftown, from Donald Ross, at
New-York —" Business, at present, is amazingly
" dull. Was it not for our connexions with the peo
“ ple out of the lines we could hardly clear house
" rent."
On Monday and Tuesday last the French army, un
der the command of his Excellency the Count de Ro
chambeau, passed in review before his Excellency the
President, and the Honourable the Congress of the U
nited States, at the state house in this city ; where the
honours due to a sovereign power were refpeXfully
paid. The President was covered; his Excellency Ge
neral Wafnington, the Commander in Chief, the Count
de Rochambeau, &c. flood on his left hand, uncover
ed. The Frefident took off his hat, and bowed in re
turn to every salute of the officers and flandards. The
troops made a most martial and grand appearance.
The orders of his Most Chriflian Majesty are, to pay
the fame honours to the President of Congress as to
the Field-Marthal of France and a Prince of the Blocd,
and to the Congress the fame as to himfelf.
The fpe&ators were impressed with the most lively
gratitude to the brave, noble and virtiois prince,
who so happily governs the French nation; whose fhi-