The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1778-06-17 00:00:00, page 2

LONDON, February 2,.
Cob, ofthe petition ofthe Gentlemen Freeh? ders, and
'others, of. the county of Norfolk and of fee city op
Norwich presented to the House of Commons on
^ Tufla) ^fc
^7 OUR petitioners observe, with the utmost
% concern rod rarpTie, that exuaordinag en
deavours tie tried in this county, and in many other
pans of the kingdom, to raise men and money for
h's Muj^fty's (ervice by free girs and contributions,
not given and granted in a parliamentary cuurfe,
which urufual and Drained efforts (concerning the
very legality of which they conceive doubts may
jAlly be entertained) while Parliament actually fits,
arid at a time when his Majesty is in apparent peace
with ail the powers in Europe, strongly indicate
feme violent dftemper in the state, to which its or
dir a r y powers and means of supply are not fufficient.
We moll humbly apprehend, that if a war with any
of the neighbouring nations threatens to break out,
nothing can give more encouragement to it than the
taking such measures as tend to prove this kingdom
to be as much exhatifted in its strength, at the very
•commencement of foreign hostilities, as it has been
at the dlofe of the longest and most wafteful wars.
Year petitioners have beeß aifo called upon, in a
manner equally alarming, by persons of great pow
er and rank in his bhjefry's service, to raise men
and money for supporting the conltruion?l authori
ty of G^eat Britain. We hope and t^ft, that cm
flituriomd authority is fafe and well fupperted in
the affidiuns of a loyal and a free people; we know
cf no ariack upon or refinance to, the operation
cf the laws in this county, or io this kingdom;
impaired, as we may be, in power or reputation
abroad, we have, however, peace a r home; but in
the Thirteen once fl unhiig and obedient Colonies
or Great Britain, bis Majeft, has no authority or
other government to be imported A mifreprefen
tairef our unhappy fination would be a mockery
of # ,or JdtrEs An empire is left. A great con
tinent in arms is to be conquered cr abandoned.
Ore whole IDIT army o f veteran troops has fur
re^d^red pnfoners -of war to the fuufen levies of a
new narior!; ano her, abandoning a province which
has been over 'UJ in the iatt campaign, and after
tw^ engagements in the field, fucce'.sful without ad
vaptoe, having marched out to t«ke a view of an
enemy polled in one of thole p aces of inaccessible
strength with which America abounds, has been
compelled by necessity to march bak to an open
tuwn, which they are obliged to fortify for winter
quarters at an enormous expence; the Continent
of America is, it seems, to be conquered by defeat
ed and difenfire armies. It is a project we cannot
apprehend. Sixty thousand folders, a force of ar
ti ; ry (if we are to judge by the charge) iuch as
.never has b°en lent out of this kingdom, sixty thou
sand seamen voted, more than an hundred armed
fliips employed in this Special service, an unheard of
exper.ee in every fort of military supply, hare, after
three years struggle, brought things to such a state,
that, iuftead of quieting our civil troubles, we are
threatened with a foreign war, for which, after fach
an abundance (for we cannot call it profusion) of
parliamentary grants increasing daily, and with the
most exuberant recruiting funds, we are called up
on to piececut the deficiency of public wealth by
private contribution. A nation of iuch power as
this, reduced to such a state, must lole its reason
and its feelings together with its glory, if it could
acquiefee in its condition. It is not in our choice
tt suppose that it can have happened without a fau't
somewhere; in the Generals and armies the fault
cannot be ; if their known and tried characters did
not forbid all fu^icions of them, yet his Majesty's
most gracious speeches from the throne make it im
proper for us to entertain the least doubt of their
courage and conduct; but his Majesty has not for
bid us to entertain doubts of the wisdom, care and
prudence, of those who conduct his affairs; and we
trust, that the House of Commons, whole duty
calls, and whole competence and confitutirn ena
bles them to come to the bottom of those evils, will
ferionfly enquire into the causes of our present ca
lamitous fi nation, for, we greatly fear that we,
with the rest of your conftitnents, have been hither
to greatly deceived and deluded with regard to the
nature, the cause, and the importance of the Ame
rican troubles, as well as concerning the means of
quieting them, both legal and coercive; e!fe we
fhou!d not have the misfortune to fee ads of Parli
ament made, only to be sent back to be repealed;
armies feat cut to enforce them, only to be return
ed to us as pri oners under capitulation ; and to (peak
with tl e tih^l confidence cf free fubje&s, we plainly
declare rurkives w willing to commit any more of
cur national glory to attaint, and the peTns of
more of our countrymen to foreign hardfliips and
perils, without any common human security that
they shall not, by the -fame. errors, be exposed to
the fame calamities and disgraces which many of
those have fallen into who have already been sent
forth. Without wi e council at home, we cannot
have empire or reputation abroad. It is our duty
to our Sovereign, to whose person and iliuftrious
house we have ever borne the most diflinguifhed and
zealous attachment, which compels us to lay before:
this Honourable House this representation of his
affairs. We shad ever be foremoft in providing for
every reasonable and ufeful supply for the public
service; but we cannot make curlelves the inftru
ments of any fadhon, or grant money as a ted of
cur support of it; if the Colonics can be brought
to obedience, we are convinced, by lad experience,
it must be by wife and lenient councils, and by
those in whom they have no experience of ill will
or incapacity, the one producing hatred, the other
contempt. For our domestic pro^Aioa, we most
humbly conceive that curcondiutional militia, which
bis Majesty has been enabled to call cut, is the most
effective and least invidious defence; twelve entirely
new corps, confiding of fifteen thousand Htghlan
ders of the northern part of the united kingdom,
and of the towns of Manchester and Liverpool, ap
pointed during the fi ring, without the previous
approbation of Parliament, and which can hardly
be ready in time for American device, ate not, we
humbly submit it to superior wiidem, the defence
in whch we can or ought, for obvious reasons, to
trust, in preference to that more numerous and
equally well trs.ir,ed and well ^ffe&ed body, the na
tional miitia; nor have we been given to under
fland, at a time wh n the war establishment francs
at c< mpararively low numbeis, and those numbers
la from complete, aid at a time wh-n the public
bwtheos are to oppressive, for what reason new
corps should be railed, or on what grounds; if a
compliment was meant (at the expc ce of our fi
nances, and what we conceive the muff serviceable
military arrangement) that compliment has been
confined to the above mentioned parts of this king
dom. We do therefore, with all earnestness aed
humility, pray an enquiry into the true grounds and
corded of this unhappy civil v.ar, that the best
means may be fouqd for bring ng it to a speedy ter
mination, for facilitating the reiteration f c # ncord
and confidence to all the citizens of the British em
pire; to avert, if pofiible, a foreign war. or, if that
be not possible, to take due care that rational, es
fe&ual, and becoming provision, in an orderly and
pa liamentary way, be made for our defence,and
fafety. Under the accumulated distress of foreign
and civil hoftihty, we throw cutleries with the molt
perfect reliance on the care and wisdom (never
more called for than in the present exigency) of a
British House of C mmes; on them we rest the
lad hopes of a deleting, but, we fear, an injured:
deceived, and endawgeied people.
Extract ofa eher from Thetford, in Norfolk, March 6,
''We have just learnt that a rebellion is begun
in this country. Eight huided most determined
men are already in aims, and more are hourly join
ing them. They seem determined to prevent any
men being sent out cf this county to America.—
The catch word among them is, “ The American
war in Norfolk." Some of the gentlemen whb
planned the feheme for opening a fubfeription for
raising men for his Majesty's service, have been
obliged to fly from their habitations. Should other
counties follow their example, government wil want
th^ir troops at home to preserve peace, instead es
fending them to subdue the Americans. This is an
alaming circumftanee to us here; but I hope the
popular gentlemen cf this county will be able to
quiet the insurgents, which they are endeavouring
to do, without calling to their assistance the milita
ry power, for that wuuld certainly make them def
parate, and inflame them more against government."
CHARLESTO WN (Soutb-Carotina) May x 4.
A counts from Bermuda inform us, that the armed
Paip Lord Amherst, cf 36 guns and 170 men, was cast
a^ay there on the 26th of February. She and the Lynx
flcop were convoying the homeward beund Jamaica
fleet, whih had nearly all ihafed the fame fate. A
Spanish (hip with 1300 feroons of Guatimala indigo,
and some treahre on beard, was wrecked there soon
after the Lord Amherst ; the greatest part of the Spa
niard's cargo was saved.
W ILLIAMSBURG, My 29.
Extras of a letter from Cape-Francois, to a gentleman
in this city, dated May 11, 1778.
" I have the pleasure to acquaint ;ru, that we have
received certain advice, by a vessel just arrived frem
the Miffifippi, that a party cf men, who lately came
down that river, h^d seized one cr two Britifli posts in
that quarter, and had I.ken and fold about 900 ne
grois from the plant tio' s, ard captured several flbps,
(one of 20 gun) richly loaded with cash, fu s, and in
digo, amounting in tha whole to about four hundred
thousand pounds fterhng. The fame account mentions,
that the post at rhe Natches was taken and retaken
three several times, but ultimately remained in our
peffeffion."
BALTIMORE, 7 June 6.
A French (hip of 30 guns, richly 1 den, was lately'
taken near cur capes, by the Greyhound British man
of war.
By this day's post bis Excellency the Governor re
ceive I a h ttei V m one u J.a Delegates to Congress.
Intelligences nxi (AM P, June 1, 1778.
MaxwTsbrigo c rrarcbedfeverald & ysagoto Jersey
The enemy cx;^ to evacuate Philadelphia within
a day or two, m which caf it hrtuppoled the army will
fallow Uiem in the following civifions:
iff. Div fion ; M jor fenced Lee; Poor's, Varnum's
end Hontiagtoo'^ - ;dgcde«.
2:lDvinon ; M.jr general AFfTu; iff. and 2d
P.wrilvania, and lwc C^oaft brigades.
3I Dvfob; M qb.s de la Fayette ; Woodford,
Sc^r, and Nrh Carolina brigades.
4 h, Divifi n; Burn de Kalb; Glover, Patterson,
aim Lea ned's brig. des.
51. D vifin; Lrd Seeding; Weeden, Mulen
bur%h, rh. and 2d. brigades.
Jachfo 'sdetach m nr to enter the city ; General
Arnold akes the coo mo d there.
Def'erters.comeia in great numbers. The route of
the enemy flippyCd to be through J trfey to South-Am
boy : Several accounts fay, that they have transported
waggons to Coopu'f-Fer: . A person from Chetter
fays, ioo of the enemies drips have fallen down below
Chrihe , th? Admi al's ship wi:h them.
In Congress, 5 o'CCch, P M. id. June, '778.
The a ?ove intelligence comes from one of General
Washington's Andri, and may be depended on. I
read a private letter from trs Excellency to a member
of C: n^efr, dated rfterday, in which he feys, he
hs no doubt but th^t the enemy will soon evacuate
Philadelphia.
June 9. Advice is just received of the loss of the Pri
vateci Brig Sturdy Beg: 1 Capt. Campbell, of 16
guns and near 100 men, bringing to this port. She
vas wrecked, it is said, co the coast of France, and
every foul on board prithed.
B O ST (> N, June 4.
YT,rd?y the Don. Jcu^ Hancock and Samu
el* Holton, Enquires, two of the Delegates from
this S'ate, set off to join De Grand Congress at York-
Town, escorted by„axlet:chment of American Light-
Dragoons, They were attended by a number of ref
praaole Gentlemen 'r in this town to Watertown,
where an elegant rote torment was provided.'
Y O R K-r O W N, %ne ^~
In CONGRESS, Jure 6. 1778.
& Letter of the 27th of May from Lad ^owe. and one
of the 3d of jenr from General Clinton, at Philadel
phia, accompanied with three a&s of Parliament were read.
— The lette s are as follow :
S I R, Pbdadelphia, May 27, 1778.
II AVIN G, by a packet just arrived mom Greai-Britain,
'received the K: g's ccimamds to transmit to the Con
gress, andth. Commander in Chief of theirtroops, the co
pies of two ads, palled this f; di ,n of Parham^t, for qui
eting the disorders new fubfirting in theft Cobnies, and pre
pa mg rhe way for rhe re urn of peace, ^ embrace the earli
est opportunity to forward their closed copies of those a&s,
ans of o e other aR rearing to rl.e government of the Pro
vince ot MBAc'wfetts-Bay, f,^ the information cf the Ccn
,efs thereof ; mot finitely hoping this communication
will be productive of the desired good effe^s. 1 am, with
due ce. fideratign; Sir,
Your moQ obedient Servant.
Henry Laurens, E:q; HQWE."
President of the Congress,
SIR, Head-Quarters, Philad. June 3, 1775.
lAMI AM direfled to transmit to Congress, and the Com
mander in Chief of their troops, printed copies cf three
conciliatory aas of Parliament: Let me aid m y most sincere
wishes, tl at they may produce the deniable effect which is
hoped from them. 1 have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient and
Most humble Servant,
Henry L-urers, Efa; H. CLIN TON.
Prefidert cf the Congress.
Ordered, That they ^ referred to a Committee of Five.
The Members chefen, Mr., Drayton, Mr, R? H. Lee,
Mr. G. Morris, Mr, Witherspoon, and Mr. S. Adams.
Ordered, That the Committee retire i to the next room,
and prepare an aufwer to Lord Howe and General Clin
ton's letters.
The Committee, appointed to prepare answers to Lord
Howe ard Gen. Clinton's letters, brought in a draught,
which was read and agreed to, as follows:
My Lord, York-Town, June 6, 1778.
J HAVE had the honour of laying your LerdDip's
1 letter of the 2 7 :h of May, with the acts cf the Bri.
trih Parliament inclofed, before Congress ; and I am
inftru&ed to acquaint your Lordihip, that they have
already expr^ffta their sentiments upon bills, not essen
tially different from those a&s, in a publication of the
2±d of April lift.
“ Your Lordihip may be assured, that when the
King of Grrai-Btiain shall be f rioufly disposed to put
an end to the unprovok d and cruel war waged against
these United States, Congress will readily attend to
such terms of peace as may corfift with the honour of
independent n itions, the interest of their constituents,
&hu the sacred regard they mean to pay to treaties. I
am, my Lord, with all ue coi fideration, Q
•Your Lordship's meft obedient servant,
HENRY LAURENS,
Lord Howe. Fitfident of Congrels."
SI R, York Town, June 6, 1778.
I HAVE had the hanou of laying your letter of the
3d instant, with the acts of the British Parliament
which came inclined, before Congrels; and lam in
ffru&ed to acquaint you, Sir, that they have already
expressed their sentiments upon bills, not essentially
different from those aas, in a publication cf the exd
bof April lag.