Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1777-08-05 00:00:00, page 2

AU the Said Delegates in CongreL da ^ tt^^e
Ue recommend TO the Several Affembhes or Leg^aye
Bodies of the United States of America, "to appo^t
" ibme perlon or perlons in their refyeTtv^ States, who
" (hall receive aad examine all Inch certificates ^ may
„ be presented to them, and fitter the fame ^
<, and also what Support is adjudged by t^e
n or Lenitive Body of their State ^wh^e
« case retires & dt a partial ^ rt ; ^ ^ fj ,
" payment from time tfr^ry h a lfyy other
" ^wance, and ^ death ° ! ^fh d < abled perlon,
“ or o f '^ h allowance, and find make a fair
“ od r^^ r-^ort °f " ?e " me quarterly to the Se
< <^^y of Congress or Board of War, where a sepa
rate record (half be kept of the fame, and to cause
<c payment to be m. d de of all fitch half pay or other al
« lowance as Shall be adjudged due to the perlons afore
" named on acc t not of the United States."
[ To be continued. ]
PHILADELPHIA.
f L ETTER from Benjamin Franklin, 4^7S|LAS
Deane, Efguires, to Lord Stormont, the Englifb
Ambassador at Paris.
My Lord, Paris, April 2d, 1777.
^^7 E did ourselves the honor of writing f me nine
since to your Lordship on the (object of ex
changing prisoners; you did not condefeend to give us
any answer, and therefore we exped none to this ; we
however take the liberty of fending you copies of cer
tain Depositions which we (hall transmit to Congress,
whereby it pvill be known to your Court, that the
United Stares are not unacquainted with the barbarous
treatment their people receive when they have the
misfortune of being your prisoners here in Europe;
and that if your conduft towards us is not altered, it
is not unlikely that fevce reprisals may be thought
juTfidble, from the necessity of putting some check to
such abominable practices.
For the fake o' h^nmity, it is to be wished that
men would endeavour to alleviate as much as pofittfe
the unavoidable miseries attending a Rate of war. It
has been said, that among the civil zvl nations of
Europe the ancient horrors of that date are much di
rJaifhed; bur the compelling men by chains, (tripes
and famine t> fight a^aft their friends and relations,
is a new m de of barbarity which your nation alone
Ins the honor of inventing; and be ferdi g Anv ican
pifoners of war to Africa and Alfa, remote from all
probability of exchange, and where they can Scarce
bipe ever to hear from their families, even if the nn
tvhole omnefs of the cl mate does not put a Speedy cud
£9 their lives, is a manner of treating captives, that
you can jollify by no other precedent or cuff >m except
that of the black Savages 1 Guinea.
/% are, your Lord/hifs most obedient
bamb'e Servants
B. HRANKLI N.
S. DEANE.
Lord Vifeount Stormont.
To the above Letter the following insolent reply
was made :
<6 7 id h Ring's Ambafodor receives no letters Torn
Robe's, except when they come to aft Mercy"
The DepoftiOT of EUpbalet Downer, Surgeon, t^ken in
the P-f.be privateer, is as fodo^ :
THA V after he was made pri( ne^h/Contains Ross
and Hodge, who tock advantage of the ge/a^ous c , 0 .
dud of Capt. John Son of the Yank e to them his pri
soners, and of the confidence he p'ac-d in them in con
fluence of that ConduX and their ass he and
his cmtrymcn were cHfely confined, yet afired that
on their arrival in part they Should be let at liberty,
and these aflora ices were repeated in the moR Solemn
manner; instead of which, on their approach to land
they were, in the hot weather of Attguft, (hut up in a
final! canin, the wind >ws of which were Spiked down
and no air admitted, in so much that they were all in
danger of fuffbeation from the excessive heat. Three
or four days afte their arrival in the river Thames,
try were relieved from this filiation in the middle of
the night, hurried on board a tender and Sent down to
Sheerness. where the deponent was put irit. the Ardent
and there falling sick of a violent ftyer in conlequence
of such treatment, and langnifhrJ in that fixation for
force rime, he was removed (till tick, to the Mars, a.d
n?twith ftending repeated petitions to be furred to be
sent to prison on shore, he was detained until having the
appearance of a mortification in his legs, he was feot to
HafUr hospital, from whence, after recovering his health
he had the good fortune to make his escape. While
on board thole (hips and in the bafpitai, he was inform
ed and believes that many of his countrymen, after ex
periencing even worse treatment than he, were lent to
;he East Indies and many of those taken at Quebec
were sent to the coast : f Africa as foldirrs.
see ^ebojition of laptasn Seth Clark, of Newbury Port,
i:l fc State of Mafrebufetts Bay, so America, is as
ffdews :
T HA Ton his return from Care 'Niched Mole to
Newbury-Port, he was taken pn 'hw < 7t h of Septem
her lad by an armed:cho?ner rlic Britannic Maieftv's
hrvice, — Coats, Eiq; commander, and carried down
to Jama -a; on his arrival at which place, be was sent
or board the Squirrel, anoth^ aw:.,'.: . N' - 7
fes EQ; commander, where, although maftef and
half owner of the reiTel in which he was taken, he was
turned as a common bailor before the mast, and in that
fixation failed for England in the month ofNovember,
on the 25th of which month they took a fchaoner from
Port a Pc to Charleßjwn, South Carolina, to which
place (lie belonged, when the owner, M-. Burt, and
the matter, Mr. Bean, were brought on board, on the
latter's denying he had aay trip papers, Capt. Douglas
ordered him to be Gripped, tied up and then whipped
with a wire cat of nine tails that drew blood evepy
ftreke, and then on his faying that he had thrown his
papers overboard, he was untied and ordered to his
duty as a common fail >r, with no place for himfe'f or
people to lay on but the decks. On their arrival at
Spithead, the deponent was removed to the Monarch,
and there ordered to do duty as a forenitf man, and on
his euling on account of inability to do it, he was
threatened bv the Lieutenant, a Mr/Stoney, that if he
fp>ke one word to the contrary, he fbowd be brought to
the gang-way and there fcereiy flogged.
After this he was again removed and put on bard
the Barfteur, where he remained til! the iotl, of Fe
bruary. On board this flrp the d p>ne?t law fevera
American prisoners, who were cPfe'y confined and ironed
with only four mens-afowante ^fix Theie prifooets
and others informed this deponent, that a nurrtbe of
American prisoners had been taken cut of his (hip and
feet to the East Indies and the coast of Africa which
he was told would have been his fate, had he arrived
sooner. This deponent further faith, That in Haflar
hospital, t 0 which place on account of sickness he was
removed Tom the Barfleur, he saw a Captain Chafe,
of Providence, New England, who told him, that he
had been taken in a fl >op of which he was half owner
and matter, on his paflage from Providence to S<uh
Carolina, by an English transport, and turned over to
a (hi, of war where he was confined in irons 1 3 weeks
inhPted, beat and abused by the petty officers and common
fai ors, and on being releas'd fion ir^s was dered
to do duty as a ferernaft-man until bis,arrival in England,
when being danger ufly ill he was lent to said hofpirai.
Paris, March 30, 1777.
Pu^i/hed bv order of Coneref,
CH ARLES THOMSON, Secretary/
Extreß of a Liter from Paris, March 12th, 1777-
" All Europe is for you,—The Separate conftitu
tions of the feverd States are also tranflariog and
publishing here, which afford abundance o' peculation
to the politicians of Europe, and it i^ a very general
opinion, that r you succeed in efhblifhing your liber
ties, you will as foel as pace is red ired, receive an
i r,menfe addition of numbers and wealth from Europe,
by the families who will go over to participate your
privileges and carry their efties with them. T,anny
is so generally efablAed in the re ft of the world, that
the profpea of an afyium in America for those who
love liberty, girls gene ally joy, and your cause is
esteemed the cause of mankind. Slaves naturally be
come base as well as wrench 1; v m u are fighting for the
dignity and happi eh of human nature. Glorious is
it for the Americans r o be called by Providence to this
post of honour; curled and detested will every one be
that defers or betrays it."
Extract of a better from an American gentleman at Paris,
May 13, 1777.
" From every information I am able to obtain, our
enemies are much prefled to mxke a tolerable appea r
ar.ee this campaign. Something extraordinary mast
happen to enable tke King of Great-Britain to gratify
trie malignity of his passions by continuing the war,
Should this campaign fail. Whatever a man impelled
by the me, ft inimical difpofition' can do may be ex
peAed from him. It is certain he has made fomecon
cefhoos in the fishery to this Court in hopes of keeping
them quiet; but we need not be much afraid about the
effect of them."
Extract of a letter from London, April 2fr
" [ saw Me- to-day, and had a long conver
faton with him. Heis a well infLu^ed, cautious and
fenhide man, and though conne&ed with government,
he frankly acknowledged to me, that if the Kpc,
forces are not able this campaign, to give a signal de
feat to the American army, it would be impofole for
Administration to funport another. Arms, he said,
were to decide the question of independence; and peo
pie in power still flattered themfelv p s with dilution,
and that Washington would not be able to collet an
army strong enough to refill rhe exertions of Howe.
He concluded by observing that nothing less in his
opinion than the intervention of Providence, could
prevent the ruin of Britain."
Extras of a better from France, dated May 22, 1777.
" Our privateers and cruizers in the channel have
railed the insurance in London. One of my friends
here lately paid 10 per cent, between Dover and Calais,
Captain Conyngham imprudently returning into Dun
-kirk with two prizes, was apprehended, with his peo
ple, at the request of the Court of England, and put
into prifen, on pretence of piracy, but having a Com
nuffion from Congress, they are difeharged; the prizes
however being reclaimed will be delivered up, tQe fit
m, mr a , Du kirk being contrary to treaties, wh u
mud be observed till war is declared."
tt? " r - Half's Answer to the piece published
Mr. Lynch, in cur lad, is deferred till next week for
. . w f reerr,.
“ there is just pabiifhpd n England, a lever from
Mr. Burke to the Sheriffs of Briber, in which he
paints the present state of B dam in strong colours,
but I think with truth. " We behold, fays he, our
native land, which used to fit the envied arbiter of all
her neighbours, reduced to a servile dependance on
their mercy; acquire ng in affurarces of friendship
which (he does not trust; complaining of hoftdities
which (he d?.res not relet deficient to her allies,
lofty to her Gbje&s; Cuba iffive to her enemies. In
deed our affairs are in a very bad condition. Ido
affiire those gentlemen who have prayed for war, and
obtained the blefhog they have (ought, that they are
at this instant in very great ftrai s. The abused
wealth of this country continues a little longer to feed
its diftenper. As yet they, and their German allies
of twenty hireling Rates, have contended only with
the unprepared strength of our own infant Colonies.
But America is not subdued. Not one unattacked
village, which was originally adverse, through that
vast Continent, has yet submitted from love or terror.
You have the ground you encamp on, and you have
no more. The events of this war are of so much
greater magnitude than those who either wilhed or
feared it, ever looked for, that this alone ought't&
fill every considerate mind with anxiety and diffidence.
Wife men often tremble at the very things which fill
the thoughtless with f curity. For many reafens, Ido
not chu e to expose to public view the particulars of
the state in which you Rood with regard to foreign
powers during the whole course of the last year.
Whether you a?e yet wholly out of danger from those
powers, is m#re than 1 know, or than you, rulers cau
divine. But even if I were certain of my fafety, I
could not easily forgive those who had brought me into
the mofl dreadful perils, because bv accidents, unfore
feen by them or me, I have eleaped.''
" I have not time to add my own reflexions to the
above. I will only fay, that another year's brave and
virtuous defence of our liberties, will probably put an
end to cur difficulties, and eftablifti independence,
which will probably be introductory to a prosperity es
which we at present car. scarce form a conception."
Last Saturday a courier patifed through this town,
on his way to Philadelphia, with a packet, said to
contain dispatches of importance, from the Court of
France (which arrived at Portsmouth last Tburfday)
for the Honourable the Representatives of the United
States of Columbia.
Last Saturday a fleet of 40 fail of (hipping were seen
off Guildso r d.
Yefferday four officers, prisoners, taken on bea/d
the Fex, arrived in town, under a proper guard, from
the Eastward, and were immediately feet on board cur
prison sh p.
Last Vuefday arrived at Dartmouth, a sloop from
South-Carolina, the maffer of which informed, that
on Monday last, he saw a fleet of 40 fail, off Biock-
Island, Handing N. E.
BOSTO N, ,udy 24.
BY an express arrived here last Friday night, from
Madchefter, io the state of Vermont, which he left
an Fue'day the 1 ;th inftast, we learn, that the enemy
were then in pofifeffion of and fortifying Castle Town,
on the Hampshire Grants, so called, and cutting a
road through towards South Bay, in order to get to
Fort Ann —-that there had been a battle at Hughbarton,
between a body of our troops u dor the command of
Colonei Ebenezer Francis, of the Maffaehufetts state,
and Colonel Hale of the Hamplhire state, and about
2000 of the enemy, when our people retreated, being
overpowered by numbers; that the loss on our fide was
reported to be 150 killed and milling, among the former
were the abovementioned Colonels Frances and Hale—
that there had been a second engagement at or near
Fort Ann, between another body of our troops under
the command of Colonel Warner and about 1 §OO of
the enemy, when they were repulsed with corfiderable
loss—that it was reported and believed that the eneray
in both actions, had between 4 and 500 killed, and
mull have a greater num rer wounded —You that Major
Skeene (for whom M : . Lovel was exchanged) had got
to Skeenefborough with a number of todies and ioldiers,
was determined to fortify and defend that place to the
last extremity, being offered tfhat afli dance he required
from the humane General Howe.
Extract efa tetter from a gentleman m Paris. May 270
" All Europe is on cur fide of the qufton, as far
as applause and good wishes can carry them. Those
who live under arbitrary power, do, nevertLelefs. ap
prove of/ibvrty, and wilh for it. They almost despair
or recove ing it in Eur >pe; they read the tranfa&ions
one Separate Colony Constitutions with rapure;
and there are such numbers every where who talk of
removing to America with their famines and for ones
as soon as peace and car independence sad be efta
blilhed, that 'tis gen. illy believed C,, than have a
prodigious addition of ftrengch, wealth ami arts, from
the emigrations of Europe, and 'tis thought that to
ledn or prevent such emigrations, the tyranny efta
bodied tbere must ^elax and allow more liberty to
their people: Hence it is a common obfervarion here,
that war cause is the cause of ah mankind ; and,that we
die fighting for their fr^y in defending of onr own.
It is a glorious ralk assigned us b, Providence; which
has I trust, given us fyrit and virtue equal to it, and
will at : aft crown it with fuccefs.''