The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-08-10 00:00:00, page 3

THE public may now fee by the printed Journals of Con-
A grefs, that the Hon. Arthur Lee, Esq ; continues in
high confidential place in Europe, under the authority of
thrfe United States, fhey may fee that there wasan ex
traordinary division of sentiment among the Members of
Congress, ©n April 31, in regard to that continuance —
4to 4 and 4 divided: They will doubtless conclude, that
the division was chiefly, if not intirely, a consequence of
Mr. Deane's publication in your paper of December 5,
bast year. Aad they may also imagine, that the fame
cause will produce, in a degree, a similar effeft on the minds
of many persons in Europe. You have shown in your last
piper that Mr. Lee apprehended this : But you quoted,
from the Connecticut Courant, an uncorre& transl tion of
his letter of February Bth, to the Editor of the Leiden Ga
zette, of the 23d, which is truly as follows ;
"IPRAY you, Sir. to give the public the following
answer to the contents of a letter which hath appeared un
der the signature of SiLAs Deane, viz. That I declarein
the most folernn manner; that all the accusations again# me,
•which it contains, are abfo'utely falfe. A particular detail
of the proof which will demon ftrate, not only that those
accusations are falfe and scandalous, but also, that the ac
cuser has in all reason and justice loft the confidence of the
public, is due to the Delegatesof the United States in Con
gress assembled, whose servant I am: And I cannot give
this detail to the public, without their permiflion. In the
mean time I assure myfelf, thata clear and positive
denial will be regarded by every honest and impartial
person, as a Sufficient amfwer to bare accusation ma
nifeftty dictated by the rancour of a man displaced.
(Signed) ARTHUR LEE."
The letter is introduced by a remark that an affair of
Mr. Deane's with the Lee family had/*more than any thing
else, contributed to give credit to the report of a division in
Congress. -The public, watchful for the prosperity of their
own affairs, and at the fame time justly tender of the honor
and reputation of their official Servants, Seldom need more
than to be furnilhed with a true state of faffs, to enable
them to draw the most judicious conclusions, and to di
stribute their praise or blame with conspicuous equity. If
Mr. Deane's wfinuations again ft Mr. Lee have a Solid basis,
it his allegations can be Supported by good vouchers, Mr.
Lee ought not longer to hold a confidential trust ; But, if
the man of capacity, honor and integrity Iras been falsely
traduced, the public countenance in his favor, manifefted
.by their continuing him in office, will be at once his re
compeiac&and glory. An investigation of faffs connected
with fin's business is but a decent mark of refpeff, due to
the people of these United States, from every individual
who is in any way particularly capable of coming honor
ably at the frruth of them. It is chiefly from a sense of
this duty, that I ask a column for to-morrow in your wide
ly circulating paper, I have an inferior motive, which is
a report that Mr Deane will soon leave Philadelphia, be
ing difeharged from any further attendance on Congress.
My patriotic endeavours may therefore become depreciat
ed, on a delay, by a surmise, that I waited for his absence
before I chose to appear openly to counteract his publica
tion above referred to. I would not indeed have refled
even till now, if I could have dared to present to the pub
lic eye, only the most glaring presumptions and uncon
trovertible inferences. Faffs alone suited me.
I believe I cannot, without being tedious, furnifli for
this time more than one Specimen of the manner in which
J mean to proceed ; but that one will Secure for me the pub
lic attention hereafter.
Mr. Deane fays : '' Immediately on the arrival of the news
of General Bur oyne's surrender, a treaty with France
seemed to the Bntilh Ministry more near and more pro
bable; your Commissioners) therefore, were continually
founded, indirectly, as to their difpofitioris for reconcilia
tion. About this time Mr. Lee's Secretary went to And from
London, charged with affairs which were Secret to year 0-
ther Coramiffiohers. Conjectures were formed, it is triie;
and with the more reason as Mr. Lee was dragged into the
treaty with the utmost reluctance. It was agreed that this
important matter should be kept a profound Secret; yet, a
few days from the signing, it was pointedly declared in
the House of Commons by the Hon. Charles Fox, Esq ;
the friend of Lord Shelburne ; this gave additional weight
to the other cifcumfiances."
Here are Several insinuations, one faft arid part of an
other. To which I contract the toilowing; On December
4th, 1777, Mr. Jonathan Loring Austin arrived in Paris
with theSaratoga Convention.Aftonifhimg as it may appear
after Mr. Deane's assertion, Doctor Lee had not any Se
cretary at that time, Mr Sayer having left him the June
before, at Berlin. He did not take another till late in
January, 1778, when he employed a Major Thornton,
who.had been chosen by Messrs. Franklin and Deane, to
carry a letter from the Commissioners to Lord North. Mr.
Lee never having before Seen or heard of him. On De
cember 11, 1777, Dr. Franklin writes to Sir Grey Cooper,
" We have prevailed with a gentleman, Major Thorn
ton, (to us much a flranger, but who appears to be a man
of humanity) to visit the prisoners and give from us Some
relief. This gentleman remained in London past the 3d
of January, as appears by one of his letters ; an unlucky
letter as I Shall Show hereafter. I cannot fell exactly
the day of his return; but having behaved with
laudable Spirit on this occasion, he was lent to England
by Dr. Lee on February 11th, and a second time on April
goth, 1777, for purposes seasonably communicated to
proper persons in Fran e, and known now to Congress.
I proceed to the infinuatioas of half fad. Charles
Fox is made the " friend," while others fay he is no
toriously the family-foe of Lord Shelburne; and the
Speech of C. Fox is omitted; Why ? Because he declared
he had Seen a letter of Dollar Franklin's, in which that
Commissioner of America fays to his correspondent at
London, " ten days ago the Deputies ofCongrefs signed,
with the French Ministry, a treaty of commerce wherein
all the formalities customary between nation and nation
contracting have been Solemnly observed." Vid . Courier
de I'Europe, Feb. 24, 1778. If we suppose Mr. Deane
did not early know as well as others what C. Fox had
uttered in February, let it be kept in mind that Mr. Deane
did not publish till the December following.
I have only taken up the paragraph of the publication
now, as connected with the infinuatien that Mr. Lee had
betrayed to the enemy, " an important matter ageeed to
be kepta profound Secret :" I leave the candor of the pub
lic time to weigh the veracity of Doctor Lee's accuser as to
Mr. DUNLA P,
In C OU N C 1 L,
Philadelphia, Augup 9, 1779.
THE reference of the Honorable toe Congress on the
complaint of Mr. Holker, being again resumed, and this
Board having deliberately and carefully perused the feve
ral papers touching the flour purchased at Wilmington,
aad also the publications made in the Several News-papers
refpeHing Mr Holker, and duly cenfidered the fame,
do agree to the following resolutions.
First, That the flour in queftioxi, and now in the pos
session of this Board be delivered to Mr. Holker or his
order—in case Mr. Holker declines accepting thereof, this
Board to be accountable therefor.
Secondly, That this Board highly disapproves of all
publications tending to injure the characters and impede
the officers of His Most Christian Majefly in the faithful
discharge of their public functions, in which we will fop
port them with the whole Executive Authority of the
State.
Thirdly, That upon a careful pertifl of the federal af
fidavits, certificates and papers transmitted to this Board,
on each fide of the question, it des not appear'that any
clandestine private trade has been carried on to die preju
dice of the said embargo, by the authority or orders & the
said Mr. Holker, or with bis privity or concurrence.
And Mr; Holker, in his representation of the 24th ultimo,
having disavowed any such transactions, we deem and
confider it as perfectly fatisfadory.
Fourthly, That it be reconimended to Mr. Holker, if
he fhouid make any further purchases by way of private
commerce, to employ none but persons of fair and unfuf
peded ch rafters, as an effectual means to prevent any
farther difficulties or obfiraOions, and preserve public and
personal tranquility.
Extract from the Minutes,
Pubifoed by order b, the Council,
T. MATLACK, Secretary.
[Many of our customers not having had an opportunity of
feeing the following interesting letters, publilhed in last
Thursday's paper, it miy not be improper to re-publilh
them ]
Extras of a letter from 4g^fttaatt at St. Euftatia, dated
21, July, brought b, Cap.haf who arrived here yes.
terday afternoon, is a pafhge of eleven days.
" b'Eftaing failed the Ift infant, landed on Grenada
the 2d, the Island fufrendered to him on the sh, had a
general engagement wi:h Admiral Byron on the 6th which
faded seven honrs Byron being much disabled, fell to
leeward, and only fetched this iflahd on the 13th, and did
not reach St. Kitts until r.e igtn.
Julyaz. 1779'
'' I have the plealure of confirming the Capitulation of
Grenada ; the particulars having j^ft com to hand. The
French troops landed on the evening or the 21 to the
amount of 1300 men. the enemy was in poffiffion ®f a
strong pof icalled Hofpiral Hill, very steep and affi ult of
access, it was fortified by a paliifade on the foot and
three intrenchments one over the other As Byrou's
fleet was expected every moment, the French General
relived on storming it by three different ittacus oil
the east fide, and immediately summoned re Englilh
Commander, (Lord M'Cartne) ) to Surrender, whogavetef
answer, that knowing his own strength and being ignor
ant of the French force, he was determined to defend the
post to the best. The French immediately began the at
tack, the right was commanded by Viscount Noaille, the
center by Count E. Dillon, the left by Count A. illon.
The assault was prosecuted with great fpir t, and the fort
was taken after a violent engagement of one hour. The
artillery was four 24 four 8 and 6 mortars. At day
break the artillery were turned against the other fort, and
upon firing the firft round an officer appeared with a flag,
demanding a capitulation. The terms proposed to theFrench
General being rejeded, the island surrendered at difere
tion. 700 prisoners are taken, viz. 6 Colonels, 8 Majors,
34 Captains, 35 Lieutenants, 35 Ensigns, 590 privates, 3
pair colours, 102 pieces cannon, 16 mortars. The French
loft 33 men killed, and 71 wounded. Admiral Byron is
at St Kitts with his shattered fleet.^
" +5 P. M. I have the pleasure to inform, that Count
D'Eftaing with 40 fail of men of war, are just heaving in
fight of St. Kitts.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman at St. Eufatia, dated
July 22
" The Count D'Eftaing has taken Grenada, after an ob
stinate siege. It is thought Tobago is also e're this in his
possession, having worfled Admiral Byron's squadron in a
late smart adion off Grenada, and dif.bled some of his
ships so much, they were all obliged to bear away; some
of them have got into St. Kitts, others drifted so far to
leeward, were obliged to go to Jam dca to refit. TheCount
fuffered little or no damage, and is now out on another
expedition. It is expected Antigua and Barbados will be
the next object, and as they never cow'd have a more fa
vorable opportunity, there is hardly a doubt but the other
the fads advanced therein, and to assay exactly the value
of his current innuendoes. But it is proper here to menti
on, that the missions of the Secretary to London have been
insinuated to be for flockjobbing purposes ; and that Doctor
Lee disdaining the suggestion, has been happy enough to
trace out a endows feene, in which the crime falls b.ck up
on the pate of the accusers ; as I Shall endeavour to shew in
considering again that letter of Thornton's which I have
called " unlucky." I Shall not neglect what is Said of
DoCtor Lee's being “ dragged into the treaty with the ut
most reiuflance." And I Shall Show the very honorable
nature ®f the only two letters which he has written to
Lord Shelburne, alter parting from him in London, to be
come our Commissioner, his Lordship not having direCtly
or indirectly attempted to draw a third from him.
ROWLAND.
PHILADELPHIA, August 10.
The freemen of the county of Philadelphia, have chosen
a General Committee for the purpose of Supporting the cre
dit of the Continental currency. This Committee having
met, and determined to take the most effectual ireafures
for (his purpose, appointed a Sub-Committee to communi
cate their proceedings to the city Committee; and a con
ference has bee, held, which gives the bigheft expectation
of a perfect union and harmony of measures in this impor
tant bufimefs, Their proceedings will be published in due
time.]
English islands will follow. This will put our affairs on &
favorable footing, ¥ind, we cannot bnt flatter ourselves,
will effect the nil completion of all our wiflies, in securing
the independence of America."
QQ+OQQ*^*o***4 * s+o**4*
§Auguft 9. 1779
AL L persons indebted to the estate of Re
becca Baker late ot Southwark, deceased,
are requested to make immediate payment ; and those
that h>ve any demands againit said estate ace defined to
bring in their accompts, properly attested, in order for
fettlcment, in two month; from the date hereof, to
ROBERT HARRIS]^
GEORGE MOORE] Ex ° cu '°°
Two Hundred Dollars Reward.
STOLEN from the fubferiber, livn in Oxford
township, within five miles of Philadelphia, on the
28th of latt month, a bay HORSE, fifteen hand#
hi;h, trots and centers well, low in flJh, Ihod before
with heel toes Something the woife for wear, hi# mane
hngs on the left file, which is black as well ashhtail,
he is a rigilen ; together with 2 saddle and bridle little
the worie for wear. They were taken by one John
Arthur, an oftler then in my service, about five feet
eight or nine inches high, sandy complexion with oin
hair; he has been a soldier in the Continental service,
and has a discharge to return to his native abode in
Charlotte county, Virginia. He also took with him a
white blanket furiout coat which is too large for him,
a pair of tow nowfers, old flues and glared buckles, an
eld round hat very greaf>, and a new Russia sheeting
flirt. As the owner has heard that he is bound bome
wardt, it is likely h< may offer the horse for sale. Who
ever secures the thief and horse (hall have the above re
ward, paid by
6 SAMUEL DAVIS.
August 1, >779.
EIGHTY DOLLARS REWARD;
WAS STOLEN thir morning, out of the house
of Barnaby Owing, living on Haddonfield
road, three miles from Cooper's Ferry, one silver Table
spoon, masked 5. P. A. one Pap spoon, marked W. S.
five Tea-lpoon?, marked S. P. A. four marked S. P.
Any perlon apprehending the thief and spoons, so that
the owner may have them again, and the theif be brought
to justice, shall receive the above reward, or FIFTY
DOLLARS for the fpooris only, psid by
BARNABY OWEN.
N. B It is requested that Silversmiths or others will
stop toe said spoons, if offered for sale.
CA M Eto the plantation of the fubferiber,
in Abingdon townthip, on the eleventh day of
July last, a whitish CO W. Tne owner is desired to
come, prove property, pay charges and take her .way.
RYNEAR TYSON.
TO BE SOLD BY
WILLIAM THOMAS,
I.) Maiket-ftreet, next door to Mr. Dunlap's Printing-
Office,
SILK -amulets, eallicoes, Britannias, cambricks,
black Barcelona handkerchiefs, Rullia fheeting#,
cotrfe thread stockings, naps, fluffs, ribbons, striped
gingham, Manchester muffins, &c. with a large variety
of Queen's ware plates just imported.
T~C>BE EXCHANGED
For Continental Currency,
AS good Bond# as any in America, to a considera
ble amount, payable at distant periods, bearing
an annual inter ft of fix per cent. For terms apply te
Bonsall and Shoemaker, at their office in Fourth
ftreet, where real estates are fold and business tranfafted
as ufuah
FIVE HUNDRED FOUNDS REWARD.
IX7 HEREAS a certain Daniel Callaghan,
'V Cieik to the fubferiber, ran away on the eleventh
instant, with a certain fom of money, not hfs than
Eleven Fhoufand Pounds, belonging to the Continent.
S~id Callichan is of a fair complexion, about five feet
ten inches high, full eyed and wry nose, very eloquent
in paying compliments te gentlemen. Whoever takes
up (aid Callaghan and secures him in any gaol in the
United States, so that he may be brought to justice,
Dull receive the above reward and all reafonatole charges,
paid by JOHN WHITZ EL,
A. C. of Purchases.
Magugy Totunjhify Northampton County,
State oj Pennsylvania, July 16, 1779
JOHN J O N E S,
In Front street, near Vine street, Philadelphia,
PRIME American Porter, Beer and Cyder, by the
groce or dozen, for present c-fb and bottles lettered
on delivery. Wine and common Vinegar of the firft
quality, by the gallon or quart.
N B. C sh and the heighth of the market will be given
f^wr rempty bottles.
T~ OBE SOLD B~Y
JOHN D U N L A P,
The following BOOKS, in the German Language,
eh^artlv printed, viz.
Large family bibles,
TESTAMENTS,
PSALM-BOOKS,
Marburg HYMN-BOOKS,
PSALTERS,
Lutheran CATECHISMS,
Calvinist CATECHISMS,
The above Books are also fold by Ludwig Lauman,
Esq; Lancaster; Mr. Bilmire, York Town ; Mr. Hower,
Frederick-Town, Maryland; Mr. John Spangenberg,
Eafton; Mr. Joseph Heister, Reading ; and Mr. Chris
topher Loughner, Philadelphia.