The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-11-29 00:00:00, page 2

The engagement began about three in the afternoon.
-Sir Samuel Soup, a French officer, made the firft at
tack, and in !efs than ten minutes effected a complete
lodgment in fort Stomch. A smart firing then took
place from major Mutton's company, who got as fat
as the Straights of te Threat, and would have been
there rep Ifed if an fficer from Oporto had not kept
an (mart rounds of grape Chat. Colonel Hunger made
a brlik at.ack upon general Goose and, to our furrow,
after having bro^e in on his bread works, he cut off
one.o' his legs, on which the general laid down his
arms. C plain Mincepye, affixed by captain Ham,
were the lafl win entered the fort.
Having now got the full possession of fort Stomach,
a council of war was called, but the difpu es ran so
high, that several of the members became very trou
blesome. Major Madeira and captain Champaigre,
with much difficulty quelled the tumult for a little ;
but it soon broke out afrefh. Mincepye allowed that
Burnt brandy was his fiipmor in command, ut that
he had no right to be cooped up with olonl Turkey,
who was a young officer. Adjutant Applepye and
ensign Eggfauce made similar complaints, and infilled
on returning the way they came. It was in vain that
general Hollands profeffed that the matter might be
ad referendum, and endeavoured to assure them, that
the carriage by water was much fafer, and that as he
had some interest that way, he would procure them a
pafoge in less than three hours ; but all to no purpose.
They ec ped on a sudden, and fired several platoons
at going off; however the tumult now began to fob.
fide.
The rest of our army were v ry peaceable, and en
camped in fort Stomach for some hours, till finding
the climate unfavourable, they determined to go far
ther down into thecountry. After travelling through
several morasses, the inhabitants of which were so
troublesome as to oblige them to make repeated dis
charges from the rear, they arrived at the boundaries
next morning. A privy council was called ; and as
they found it impossible to pass the Straights, they
waited till general Rhubarb, and his aid de camp,
Salts, came to their relief.
Toe following is a return of the killed and wounded:
1 Buttock of Beef, 1 bogfhead, 2 entire Butts, 25
Pyes and Tarts, killed.
I Turkey, 3 Geese, 6 P h easants, 2 Loins of Veal,
120 Bottles and G asses, wounded.
Taken from the Enemy.
I Headach, 2 Cholics, 3 Loosenesses, and 6 Tum
bles on the Floor.
Miffing.
1 W%, 1 Cane, and a great variety of Good Health.
I have the honour to be,
your Lordship's humble servant,
GABRIEL GORMANDIZER
Mr. EDITOR,
AProfeffed fcoid is al onte the most difagreeaMe
and obnoxious being in the world. She not only
renders hers If completely disagreeable, butcafis a ge
neral fligma on her Tex : and I will venture to fay there
are many old batchelors, who would have long since
entered into the date of wedlock, had they hot be 0
deterred from it by some female relation or acquain
tance, whole great talents in this way made them fear
they might m m et woh a wife, woofe genius was of the
fame turn. The maidens and widows of this island
have a just plea to petition parliament for the transpor
tation of evry profefof vixen in the kingdom ; or, if
this should b' thought too severe, they should at leaf?
be taxed, to fiance them, though probably they might
fcoid the more for it. I know a very ingenious old
Gentleman, who has never had the courage to engage
in matrimony, and gives it as his opinion, that the in-
Eumerable batchetors every where to be found, remain,
so, more through the fear of being scolded to death,
than from any mercenary cause, or fir less for any
ral difpolition to celibacy. He has furnifhed me with
the hints of taxing the race of threws, having put into
my hands th following proportion, which he thinks
Very reasonable:
Scolding every morning, - 201. per annum.
Twice a day, - -. 30
Three times, - - - 40
Every other day, - - jo
Once a week, if not on Sundays, 5
Scolding a husband into a con .
fumption, tie jaundice, or any ) 100
<n~\er lingering disorder, - /
Scolding a hufomef o death, 500
Scolding herfrit in hyDerics, 000
This calculation is mile for a woman who brings
5,000 b to her fortune, which, indeed, my friend fays,
is the least portion a vixen should have fo*that tie
penalties should be proportionably augmented to the
increase of this fortune
A tax upon bate :eiors has long since been talked of
Rod by many judg d proper : but I do not think this
would be striking at the root of the evil, as it plainly ap
pears, that the real source of the complaint, celibacy, is
to be traced to this female vice, whico cannot be too
speedily, or too completely eradica ed.
I am, fir, your very humble Servant,
ANTI VIXEN.
My Lor+,
I am to acquaint your lordihip of the engagement
which took place this day between our troops over the
rebel generals Appetite and Hunger. Our army was
commanded by brigadier Buttock of Beef, general
Goose, captain Capon, and the allies from Wefiph la,
captain Ham and prince Polony The rear was
brought up by major Mincepye, flanked on the right
by brigadier general Burnt brandy, and other experi
enced commanders.
GAZETTE very EXTRAORDINARY.
Extras of a letter from general Gormandize, to the
right honourable lord Swallow, dated December
1781.
son fie ^ Oni^ T 03^
A NEW TAX Proposed.
D UB L I N, September 28.
An order was yesterday made by the privy council
to encourage a colony from Geneva to fetre in this
country. Some most refpeßable citizens from that
oppressed republic have been soliciting an asylum in
Ireland, for a number of their inhabitants, who give
the preference to us, and propose to bring with them
the arts and manufaaures that have so long rendered
that city the envy of Europe, and the continued ob
je&s of the jealousy of France.
It is thought, t. at his excellency earl Temple will
take an opportunity, in his answer to the firft pub
lic body that addrefes him on his arrival, to intimate
his majefly's wish that perfect fatisfaaion, in point
of conftitdtional security, shall be given Ireland.
Should his excellency be totally, fil nt on this subj a,
a conclusion will probably be inferred not very agree
able to the wishes and expiations of the nation.
C OR K F.
Last Saturday the Friends Adventtire, with king's
flores for Gibraltar, put into Cove ; file was one of
lord Howe's fleet, and having carried away her main
top mast, parted from his lordship last Tuesday about
12 o'clock lat 49: 9, long. 11 : 36, W. The fl?et
corififird of 36 or 37 fail of the line,' besides fifties and
frigates, The Pegasus not ha.jng joined, having met
heavy gales of wind. He left the fleet rather in a Drag
gling situation, two of them three deckers, (one of
which wore a flag) top maft# firuck or carried away,
wind S. W.
Yesterday arrived at Cove, the Endeavour, of Yar
mouth, Bearfoot,; me was on Thursday last separated
from lord Howe's fleet, which she left at r o'clock P M.
in lat. 49. long. 14, rather more collected than when the
above veffjiparted him.
Cory of an order of Congress, releasing Captain Afgill,
By the United Slates in Congre s assembled,
November 7, 1782.
On the report of a commit ee to whom was refer ed
a letter of the 19th of AuguD from the commander in
chief, a report of a committee thereon, and motion of
Mr. Williamson and Mr. Rutledge relative thereto,
and also another letter of the 25th of October from the
commander in chief, with a copy of a letter from the
count de Vergennes, dated tne 29th of July last, inter
ceding for captain Afgill.
Resolved, That the commander in chief be directed,
and he is hereby directed to set captain Afgill at liberty.
CHARLES THOMSON, Secr'y.
Copy of a Letter from General W+fhingtoß, to Cap
tain Afgill, covering the above Resolve.
S I R,
Head Quarters, 13th November.
TT affords me singular pieafure to have it my power
to transmit you the enclosed copy of an aft of congress
of the 7tn instant, by which you are released from the
difag eeahle circumstances in whrh you have so long
been. Supposing you would with to go into New
York as soon as possible, I also enclose a passport for
that purpose.
Your letter of the iSth of October, came regularly
to my hands. I b'g you to believe that my not an
swering it sooner, did not proceed from inattention co
you, or a want of feeling for your fi nation I daily
expefted a determination of your case, and I thought
it better to await that, tnan to feed you with hopes
that might in the end prove fruitlef*. You will at
tribute my detention of the enclosed letters, which
have been in my hands about a fortnight, to the fame
cause.
I cannot take leave of you, fir, without assuring
you, that in whatever light my agency in this un
pleasing ass ir may be received I n ver wasinfluenced
through the whole of it by sanguinary motives, but
by what I conceived a sense of my duty, which loud
ly called upon me to take meaures, however difa
grteable, to prevent a repetition of those enormities
which have been the fubjed of discussion, and that
this important end is likely to be anfwerd without the
effufion of the blood of an innocent person, is not a
greater relief to you, than it is to,
Sir, your m4l obedient,
and humble f-rvant,
(Signed) G. WASH NGTON.
On Monday evening arrived the Brig Pearl, Captain
Carson, who failed from Cork on tee sth ORober.
The following are copied from the Cork Evening P^ft,
September go.
L O N D O N, September 21..
Th is morning an express arrived at the admiralty
witi the agreeable news of the fafe arrival, off Fiam
borcugh-head, on Thursday last, of the whole home
ward bound fleet from the Bitick, confining of up
wards of 260 fail, under convoy of a man of war, of
50 guns, and three frigates.
N gW-Y OR K, November ty
On Saturday last arrived the schooner Betsey, cap
tain Paply, in nine days from St. Augustine. She fail
ed from that port in company with a fleet of trans
ports, which had carried some provincial regiments
and a number of loyalists from Charleftown (as men
tioned inihh Gazette of the 12th infant) and was re
turning to it with a regiment of British troops, under
convoy of his majefly's ship Fortune.
NOVEMBER 20.
We have great pleasure in announcing to the public
the fafe arrival at Kingfah, in Ireland, of lord Rodney,
in his mjefty's ship Montague, aptain Bowen, after
flaying a <ery short time hisl rdfhip proceeded to Cork
on nis way to England: and also, the arrival at Cork,
of several of the Augufl Jamaica fleet, which left that
Blind under convoy of admiral Graves, with the Ville
de Paris, Glorieux, HeCtor, and other noble trophies
won on the 12 h of April.
Captain T ollope, in the Rainbow, of 44 guns, has
taken the French friate H be, of 40 24 pounders and
300 men, built on the model of l'Aigle.
V/Vrday arrived in town, captain Afgill, of the
guards; tUs gentleman had fu#ered a most anxious and
melancholy durance during the last summer amongst
the rebels.
N E W-Y 6 R K, November s.
The following is taken from the Royal Extraordinary
Gazette of yesterday ; it's authenticity (altho' de
voutly to be wished) is much doubted, as well on ac
count of its style, as the singularity of a commander
in chief of the land forces addressing himfelf to the
secretary of the admiralty ; yet we have reason to
hope, from the Ute accounts from Oporto, &c. that
some of its contents may be true.
Admiralty Office, September 19, 1782,
Extract of a letter from governor Elliot, to secretary
Stevens, dated Sept. 12, 1782.
I HAVE taken an opportunity of fending this by Mr.
Frazier, master of the Speedwell cutter, who is to
fail to-morrow for England, with the subsequent ac
count of our success against the Spaniards, in their so
much boasted attack with their floating batteries. I
am in hopes he will get off fife, as the Spaniards, sick
ened by their late attempt, seem to have drawn offtheir
Cruisers, as despairing of success.
This, fir, has been one of the mofl tremenduous feenes
I ever was engaged in, and word fall short of giving
you an idea of an aßion so furious and dreadful how
ever, I shall attempt to relate some of the particulars.
As it was always my opinion that we should be attack
ed by their whole force on St. Louis's day, I made e
very necessary preparation to receive them; on the
evening of the 24th, I ordered several light boats to
fail forward and backwards to observe their motions,
and bring intelligence if they saw any thing of the
Spaniards, in the mean time, a floating battery, in the
form of a half moon, conftrußed under my direction,
was towed off from shore about 400 yards, and there
securely anchored ; twelve gun boats were also formed
in two divifiooi on the right and left of this battery,
and two batteries on a point of land, the one of 36 guns,
the other of 24, swept the bay in an oblique diredion,
and four bomb batteries of fix mortars each, these
were all the extra preparations.
About half after one in the morning, I had notice of
their approach, but very slowly, as their batteries were
built in such a manner as required much labour to
bring them on, and by the noise we heard, we imagin
ed their passage was attended with great difficulty;
they were towed by a vafl number of boats and lighters,
and feeding at times were in great confufion. By the
accounts w rich were brought in, I thought it would
be of great service to disturb them a little in their pas
sage, and ordered the gun boats to quit their present
Ration, and advance and form a line about a mile a
head of the battery, and by a constant fire, Drive to
put the Spaniards into greater confufion. This ma
nceuvre had the desired effect; the Spaniards busy in
bringing forward their unweildy batteries, which mov
ed very flow, hhd not time to observe the approach of
our boats, and thought themselves in perfect security,
until they were attacked with vast showers of grape shot
and pieces of old iron, which flew as thick as hail, and
did incredible mifehief amongst them, for now boat was
dashed against boat, and many went to the bottom.
It wasnow about three o'clock in the morning, when
by the light of the moon, they were seen about a mile
difiance from our battery.
Not thinking it proper to give them time to anchor,
I made a fignal'or our battery to begin. Nothing cam
equal the con fternation of the Spaniards, as 1 have
since been told by some o' the prisoners (for we have a
great many, whom we have saved from drowning)
than this second unexpected attack, which was repeat
ed from every quarter in deflrußive Lowers of bombs
and ball*, and which undoubtedly did great execution
among them: however, under these disadvantages, they
brou ht fame of t^eir batteries to bear, and a most fu
rious cannonade commenced. The Spaniards, on the
land file, hearing the aßion was begun, plied a most
tremenduous and amazing tire, which w inflamed for
near an hour without ny return ; but as soon as day
light appeared, a signal was made from Watson's bat
tery, for every gun in the whole line, that could be
brought to bear, to begin. But oh! how shall I paint
to you the horrid feene? you would have thought all
hell was broke loose, and that this world was going
to be crushed to atoms the eminence on which I flood,
shook or seemed to (hake, as if it were convulsed or
shook hy a mighty earthquake.
In this manner did it continue until 11 o'clock in
the forenoon, when four of their batteries were ren
dered useless, and two more were quite deferred which
were taken possession of by our people ; the remainder
were towed off with difficulty, supported by their gun
boats; and I am greatly initial, en in my conjectures,
if ever they pay us another visit. Our success on the
land fide was no I fs promising, for one 0 their advan
ced works taking fi^e, burnt with great fury; two
magazines of powder blew up, and did inrr dibl'e da
mage ; and the whole firing ceased before fun set. Our
loss has been very inconfilerable, not exceeding 150
klled and wounded, and many of them slightly.
Their's mu# exceed some tiiGufands, as many were
blown np and vast numbers drowned. Thus, in about
fifteen hours hard work, ended this mighty boasting
of our enemies in a total confufion and dismay ; and it
will Curtly appear aflonilhing to future ages, that this
litt'e rock, with 7000 men, baffled the united efforts of
France and Spain ; however we remain on our guard,
expecting them to make another trial; at prefect all
is quiet, and we hope the Spaniards, tired out with
their fruitlefs endeavours, will at length abandon the
project of Carving us out. A reasonable supply at
present will be of great service, as we are in want of
many neceffarirs. ELLIOT.
northern army.
" The following may be depended on as faCt : a man,
byname of John Cavenaugn, 91 years of age,is now
a soldier in ti e New-YorK levies,and is possessed of all
the activity and military spirit of a young soldier : his
captain prefers him to any man for celerity of march
ing, and difficult enterprizes, such as marching on the
flanks in a rough country, carrying d (patches and
such like. He personally gave me the following account
of himfelf : —-t hat he was horn in Ireland, in the year
1691, and was for some years of iub minority a servant
' ° R TSMOU T H, (N. Hampshire) Odo. 19.
Extract of a letter from an officer of diflinaion in the