The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-02-04 00:00:00, page 2

From the MARTINIQUE GAZETTE
St. PIERR E, September io.
DOMINICA, of which the English have been
masters since the year -62 by the treaty of Fon
tainbleau, is to t:.e north of Martinico, from whence flie
is separated only by a small channel of seven leagues ; situ
ated between this island, Gnadaloupe and Marigalante,
it intercepts all kind of communication, it secures a good
asylum for the Enghfh vessels, and their privateers, being
so advantageous that it is difficult for our merchant vessels
coming from France to avoid falling into their hands.
This important island toe Marquis de Bouille secretly de
termined to take from our enemies, but with his marine
forces confiding of three frigates and a hoop, what hopes
could he have, when the Englilh had three Blips of the
line, the Prince of Wdes of 74 guns, the Boyne of 7°,
Ruby of 64, and twelve frigates? All these difficulties on
ly iucrefed his arch+ Since the publication of reprisals,
the General had made secret preparations, expecting that
an opportunity might offer to make a coup de main, and
it was net long before it offered. The winter is a time
when the Inlands' are generally affli&ed with hurricanes,
and principally in the full moon of August. The Blips of
war at that time seldom keep the sea : The Boyne, which
was at Dominica, not thinking that a defeent would be
attempted at tris season, went tori.y up a( Antigua. Ad
miral Barrington continued at Barbados with the Prince
of Wales and Ruby. The Gencral informed of this move
ment, refolded to profit by it as soon as he Should be as
sured of the truth of it. A small French privateer which
had robbed the Blinds of 8 .Vincent and Curracou of 36
Negroes, contrary to his orders and intentions, furnifhed
him with a happy pretext. A flag of truce was dispatched
to Governor Stuart to fettle a cartel between the two nati
ons, in order to prevent pillage as much as possible, and
to offer to restore the Negroes. The flag of truce return
ed the fifth day with a fatisfa^ory answer, and confirmed
the a counts of the Englilh men of war having left the
Island. This favorable moment was embraced by the
General with as much wisdom as alacrity. He ordered
next morning a general embargo even upon the canoes
and pettiaugres from Cape Salomon to Rollert, and dis
patched an express to Fort Royal to order the frigates to
be at St. Fierre's the next morning; he ordered at the
fame time a party of grenadiers and chaffeurs of the regi
ment of Viennoia and Martinico, hired some vessels in
the road, on board of which he embarked provisions of all
kinds during the night. The next day, the 6th, he
made known his expedition, (of which-the evening before
there w,s much conjecture) and gave his orders accord
ingly.
The Martinicans at this time, gave the most lively marks
of that patriotic and warlike ardor which has ever diftin
yuhhed them. The General, in order -to moderate their
zeal, was obliged to fix the order and number of the vo
lunteers that should go on the expedition. The next
morning he distributed to the troops provifi®ns, camp
utedfils, tents, &c. At noon every thing was ready, and
at one o'clock the General was on the Bay, where the
army embarked, in order to hasten it and to attend to
every thing himfelf. The joy th it appeared in his eyes,
the obliging things th t he said to eve+y body, occasioned
redoubled Ihouts of Vive le Koi. It miy be said with
truth that never an enterprize was planned with so much
secrecy, readiness, zeal and ardor, in spite of the small
marine force. At half past fix every thing was embarked.
The General went on board, the Touterelle, commanded
by the Chevalier de Lalaurencerie, who was app inted to
command our little fleet confiding of four frigates, a flat
called le Truite, which the General had built some days
before, four guards codas, and nine other vessels serving
as transports, and some hoops, defined to assist the dis
embarkation. Ti eland force confided of two battalions
of the regiment of D'Auxerrois ; a detachment of 30 gre
nadiers and 50 chaffeurs erf the regiment of Viennois, a
like detachment of the regiment of Martinieo, 450 f artil
lery corps and bombardiers, the company of Cadets of
SL^Pierre, a division ofßouille's volunteers, a picket of
too men from the companies of Free Negroes and about
400 Freebooters, in all about 1800 men. It was 7 o'clock
when this little fieet set fail with a very light wind.
( To be concluded in our next. )
BOSTO N, January 18.
The Saturday after the late storm, €apt. John Decker,
in attempting to make this port, from Sheepfeut, in a
sloop, laden with lumber, &c. Was cast away on the Race-
Point, oft' Cape-Cod, when he, with most of his hands,
perished. It is very remarkable, that that day seven years
his father, Capt. Jolin De- ker, was also cast away on the
fame point, and every foul on board perished.
A Schooner belonging to Mr. Abiel Wood, which came
out with Capt. Decker, after the above storm, has we
are told, foundered at sea; the crew, it is thought, have
also perished.
Tnurfday arrived at Cape-Ann, a prize Thip from Ja
maica, bound to London, having on board 3 or 400 hog
flieads of sugar, a number of puncheons rum, &c. She was
taken by the Bennington privateer, belonging to Newbu
ry Port. The Benningtonhas taken 3or 4 prizes, which
have not yet arrived.
'Jan. 21 A gentleman from the Eastward informs us,
that the famous Capt. Mowat, with two brigs and two
hoops, who have for some time past been cruizing off Ken
uebeck river; together with a copper-bottom frigate, all
bound to Halifax, are cast away and entirely loft upon the
head of Cape Sable.— It is thought all the people have pe
rished, as not any of them have been heard of, though part
of the wrecks have been difeovered, and fom- of their stores
farfed.„
Lately arrived in a fife port the Continental armed sloop
Providence, from a very fuccefsful cruize, in which flie
captured the schooner Friendship, with 300 barrels flour,
from Quebec, bound to New York.—Brigantine Chace,
from Jamaica bound to Glasgow, 115 hotheads rum, and
180 hogsheads sugar. Brigantine Bella, from Jamaica to
Briftob with zoo hogsheads rum, 90 hogsheads sugar, 10
tons fuftick, to tons piemento. Ship Nancy, from Glas
gow, for Jamaica, taken by the Marlboro' ofFßarbadoes,
and retaken by the Experiment, and ordered for New-
York, retaken again by the sloop Providence, and order
ed for New-London, her cargo dry goods and provisions,
her invoice 30, 001. fterl'ing. Brigantine Providence, from
Cork, bound to New York, her cargo oats.
One of the above prizes with sugars, &c. has arrived in
a fafe port.
POUGHKEEPSIE, (New-York) fa. 7.
We hear from W eftchefler, that oathe remarkable severe
cold night of the 2 5 the ult. a party of the enemy surprised
a guard of about 25 of our men, Rationed at the house of
Mr. Young, near White-Plains. That our people who
were not in the least apprehensive of danger in so severe
a night, had not even a centry at the door, they having
left their guns in the stoop, and were all retired into the
house, some round the fire and others in bed.—The enemy
coming to the front of the house, and being but about e
qual in number to our people, fired at them through the
windows, by which were killed one of our meM, and a
tory whom they had prisoner. The rest of our people
made ^eir escape through the back door, except Mr.
Young and Mr. William, who were in bed. Mr. Young
got on his clothes, but Mr. Williams had nothing on but
his shirt and waistcoat, whenfthey were both made prison
er by the enemy, who hurried them away without giving
Mr. Williams time to put on any ofhis clothes, so that it
is imagined he must have perished by the cold, on th^ way.
T R E N T O N, January 27.
faxtraa of a letter from Monmouth, Jan. 23, 1779°
" On the loth day of December last, atfix o'clock in
the morning, the armed sloop Two Friends, commanded
by Capt. Alexander Bonnet, was cast away on the Long
Beach near Barnagat. A number of people from the ihore
went to their assistance, and saved all the men, but one that
was'drowned. She was from Cape Nichola Mole, bound
to Philadelphia, laden with 1600 bufliels of fait, 40 hog
sheads of molasses, some rum and sugar. She went to pie
ces in a few hours, and all was loft except about 160 gal
lons of rum. The hands went to Philadelphia- and Capt.
Bonnet went on board the sloop Endeavour at Tom's Ri
ver, to take his passage home to Ilifpaniola, but, unfor
tunately, on the 25th of lalt month in the night flie parted
her cable and was cast away in the bay, and Capt. Bonnet,
with every foul on board, perished."
Ext r a& oj a letter from Morrts-toion, Jan 17, T 779.
" The following intelligence comes by a person from
New-York, and is confirmed by another from Bergen.
The Britilh troops and inhabitants at New-York have
been in the greatest distress for want of bread, what little
flour they had was four and mufly, that for feve al days
oatmeal had been issued to the soldiers, which gave rife to
some trouble, as the Hessians rtfufed to draw it, and a mu
tiny would in all probability have been the consequence,
had not some of the Cork fleet arrived at the critical time,
and put an end to their wants—the number arrived is not
afeertained^ome accounts fay 7 fail, others 10, and other
accounts make the number about 20. It is also reported
and believed, that rations are issued to 10,000 men, wo
men and children, besides what the troops draw at New-
York, I.ong Island, &c.
PHILADELPHI A, February 4.
Tuesday morning his Excellency General Washington
set off from this city to join the army in New-Jersey.—
During the course of his ihort flay, (the only relief he has
enjoyed from service since he firftentered into it) he has
been honored with every mark of esteem which his accom
plished fortitude as a Soldier, and his exalted qualities as
a Gentleman and a Citizen, entitle him to. Among
other infiances, he was welcomed at his firft coming by
an address from the Supreme Executive Council, and the
Magistrates of the city; and politely entertained by the
President of Congress, the Prefi ent of the State, His Ex
cellency the Minifler of France, Don Juan Marrailles,
a Spanish gentleman of diftinHion and amiable character,
besides the numerous testimonies of regard shewn to him
by private gentlemen. The Council of this hate being
defiro 1 s of having his picture in full length, requeued his
fitting for that purpose, which he politely complied with,
and a striking likeness was taken by Mr. Peale ofthis ci
ty. The portrait is to be placed in the Council chamber.
Don Juan Marrailles has ordered five copies, four of
which, we hear, are to be sent abroad. His Excellency's
Bay here was rendered the more agreeable by the compa
ny of his Lady and the domestic retirement which he en
joyed at the house of the Honorable Henry Laurens, Esq;
with whom he resided.
Tuesday evening Captain Dunlap, in the schooner Count
D'Eftaing, arrived here in nine days from C arlcE 3
South-Carolina; by whom we learn, that the Eritifta for
ces in Georgia, under General Campbell, had' lately li
ken the fort at the town of Sunbury, and the ga, ^ n,
amounting to about 250 men, surrendered prisoners of
war. That General Campbell had issued a proclamation,
promising pardon to all, on submission, by which some of
the inhabitants had been deluded to feik his protection.
That for some time before the invasion of Georgia a ene
ral embargo had been laid on all vessels, by which gre^t
quantities of rice, &c. were collected in Savannah river,
part of which had fell into the enemy's hands. That^ho'
our affairs in that quarter wore a disagreeable afpefl at
present, yet they expected shortly to coiled a fufficient
force to repel the enemy, as the militia and other troops
were assembling and on their march from South-Carol na
and the adjacent states.
A letter from Rariton (New-Jersey) dated January 30,
fays, " A party of Refugees from New- York made their
appearance on Staten Island las i week, and alarmed the
inhabitants on this fide. Orders were immediately sent
to the park, for some pieces of artillery, the whole en
campment here was also alarmed, and lay most part of tee
night on their arms, expeding to have a little mufie in
the morning; however they were disappointed, for thedo
cufts returned after firing a few cannon."
The sloop Elizabeth, Capt. Alexander, from Baltimore
for the Weft-Indies, was taken the 28th of Dec. by the
privateer George and Elizabeth, Capt. Ridiy, who gave
Capt. Alexander and twelve other prisoners a boat, with
which they landed at Cranberry inlet, in New-Jersey.
Capt. Ridly in this cruize, had taken eighteen prizes
bound to and from this Continent.
We learn the island of Bermuda is garrisoned by 300 in
valids belonging to the King of Great-Britain.
The Assembly of Delaware-State, last week, acceded
to the Confederation of the United States ; and at the fame
time appointed the Hon. Thomas M'Kean, Esq ; John
Dickinson, Esq; and Nicholas Van-Dyke, Esq; as Mem.
bers, to represent that State in Congress.
A few days ago a male infant was found in Fourth-street
near the Indian Queen tavern. It was wrapped up in se
veral yards of scarlet broad-cloth, with twelve fine ruffled
shirts, fix half-joes, &€,
Monday last the General Assembly of this state met
here agreeable to adjournment.
Extras of a letter from Martinieo, dated January 7, 1779.
" The English fleet, commanded by Commodore Ho
tham, and confiding of fix ships of the line, appeared be
fore the island of St. Lucia on the 13th of December last.
The English immediately attacked the island ; they met
with no great difficulty in faking the little fort which de
fended the harbour, but the inhabitants made feme refin
ance in the mountains, where they retired. The Count
D'Eftaing arrived with his fleet to relieve them ; and at
tempted to go into the harbour, where he found the r ng
lifh fleet had fled, and were too strongly protested by
the fort. Hethen landed some troops to attack the fort,
and two assaults were made with great vigour but the
French troops could not overcome the difficulties they en
countered, and were re-imbarked with a loss that is not
yet particularly known, but must not be inconsiderable,
as the engagement was desperate. No further particulars
are yet come to hand.
" We believe here that this conquest will not be very
ufeful to the Englilh, the island being so very unhealthy,
that the French did not even keep a regular g rrifon there,
and that the necessity of protesting this possession would
make a great division in their forces, as St. Lucia would
soon be retaken if their fleet retired, and as long as Com
modore Hotham flays there, he will be exposed to a supe
rior force.
“ We have now 17 ships of the line, well armed rind
well manned, four of them just arrived from France, also
16 frigates, besides several taken from the En Jifh. With
these forces we have nothing to fear, not even from the
arrival of Admiral Byron. Several reports make us be
lieve that Spain will in a short time aft with us. All our
public buildings are filled with English prisoners, having
lately taken a great number of their ships. Sixty trans
ports arrived with the fleet just come in from France."
THE MERCHANTS ofthis City are requeued
to meet at Twelve o'clock this day, on business of
the utmost importance.
Thu°fdaj morning.
^^WW^WWW^^PW#
D ROPPE D,
Out of a Gentleman's pocket, as he thinks, at the Cof
fee-houfe, yesterday at noon,
A 'LARGE red Morocco POCKET-BOOK,
with a silver clasp, containing a quantity of Con
tinental money of the emissions out of circulation, be
fidts some other Continental bills, instruments, and
fundr/ papers of no value to any person but the owner.
A reward of EIGHTY DOLLARS will be
given to any person who will restore it with its contents
to the Printer of this paper.
February 3.
TO BE S O L D,
A VARIETY of Gun-smith's TOOLS, viz.
bench vices, hand ditto; benches and tools proper
for making musket, carbine and pistol locks; with a
variety of other utensils too tedious to mention. Like
wise one fix plate fteve, with ten feet of pipe, &c. For
terms apply to JAMES WALSH, in Fourth-street,
between Market and Chefunt-ftreets, Philadelphia.
T O BE L 1
For a Public-house, and entered upon the seventh of
April next,
ALAR GE stone Dwelling-house, two stories high,
four rooms on a floor, well finished, a court be
fore the door planted with ever-green®, stone barn, (ta
bles, and other out-houses ; one hundred acres of good
land all manured with lime, orchard and meadow well
watered ; it was occupied last year for a Public-house ;
twenty fix miles from Philadelphia, on the State r^d
to Lancaster ; the heufe Do.&ur Samuel Kennedy, d:-
ceacd, formerly dwe,lt in.
To belet on the Shares, two hundred and fifty acres
in fight of the above-mentioned tavern, ,whh s good
Rove dwelling-house, barn, Tables, two large orchards,
and twenty acres of watered meadow.
Ado, a farm of two hundred acres joining the above
place, with a good brick house, barn, Rubles, orchard,
and w. terad meadow. All the above places have bei
well manured with bme. On the place is a tan-yard in
good order, a plentiful part of the country for bark and
hides, all lying in the G# eat- Valley. The yard will be
let with the farm, or leparate, as suits the tenant.
Two houses, with gardens and orchards joining each,
fronting the Lancaster road, with stove looms to each
fit for tiadefmen.
Likewise, a good house and lot to be let at the Yel
low Springs, where a store u r ed obe kept. For terms
apply to SARAH KENNEDY. Executrix.
MON I GOMERY KENNEDY, Executor.
ALL thole indented to the estate of Dodor Samuel
Kennedy, deceased, are rquefteri to come and difeharge
their accounts; as I design leaving the country, shall
otherwise be under the disagreeable neceffiry of leaving
them with proper persons to recover.
SARAH KENNEDY, Executrix.
rdls<w Springs, jan. 28.
TO BE SO L D,
A SMALL STACK of coarse firft crop H A Y,
0 * consisting of about five tons. Apply to ISAAC
MORTON, below the New-Market, Philadelphia.
W ANTE D,
A YOUNG MAN who understands book-keeping
and accompts, writes a good hand, and can be well
recommended. Any such person uill meet with good
encouragement by applying to the Printer hereof.
WA S taken up some time ago in the River
Delaware, a httle above the mouth of Frank
ford Creek, a large FERRY BOAT, fit for ferry
ing waggons and teams. The owner coming, proving
Lis property and paying charges, may have her again.
Jan. 30. t. JOSEPH LYNDALL.