The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-08-25 00:00:00, page 2

Sv. PIERRE, (Martinique) June el.
TH £ operations of Mess. de Albert, de Rious,
and de Blancheland, w'dch happened previous
to the arrival of the fleet before Tobago, not
having been related particularly in our last paper, we
shall now give an ex^£t account of them.
The detachment Cent op the expedition to Tob gog
set fail from St. Vincents on the 16th of June. Its
passage was impeded for a long time by currents and
calms, and they only hove in fight of Tobago, on the
morning of the 22'd. On the'23d, Mr. de Albert fleer
ed towards the bay des MiniFres, with a design to ef
fed a landing, but being informed that large boats
could not go near the coast without great danger, he
determined to set fail again, and fleer toward the bay
of Courland, which lies on the northwest part of the
island. Mr. de Albert, on the 24th, after having ta
ken on board a company of chaffiurs de Walffi, coast
ed along very near the fliore,- and the remainder of
the fleet followed him at some diflance. In this fi nati
on he found himfelf within reach of a battery, placed
on t k e bay of Courlapd, and received o^e fire, which
did some damage to his rigging : at a little difiance
farther they fired three eighteen pounders, but they did
him no damage. The Plufo, in turning the point, dis
covered some other batteries, but by a welh directed
fire she obliged the enemy to abandon them. One eigh
teen pounder, placed on the southwest point of the bay,
annoyed this vessel. Three of our men, and an offi
cer belonging to our allies, were wounded by the fire.
Four eighteen pounders' then raifeda great fire, with
out doing the lead damage to our vessels. All the
troops were then landed, and Mr. de Blarfcheland
marched at their head in order of battle. He soon dis
covered about 2:00 English, who turned towards the
woods on the advance of the firft division of our troops.
Tre inhabitants were then Summoned to withdraw from
them, and the French commandant assured them of
protection, if they would laydown their arms; art the
fame time threatniog to destroy their plantations ifthey
did not accede to his propositions. They returned
for answer, that they would defend the colon, at the
expence of their property, and even 'at the r fk of
their lives. During this parley the right wing of our
little army, whicli Fill continued advancing towards
Scarborough, through the high lands, finding itfelf ve
ry near a body of militia, engaged themand killed two
soldiers and an officer. This check obliged the militia
to abandon the fort, and Mr. de Blancheland took
possession of it. On the 25th, he marched by the main
road leading towards Scarborough, and obfervihg ve
ry little Fir in the fort, he was soon informed that the
enemy had taken refuge in a redoubt. M. Fitzmau
rice was detached with two companies of cavalry to
take possession of the fort. The army keeping at x pro
per dißance to support them in case they flood in need
of it. At theapproach of the detachm' nt two soldiers
brought out a flag, and' the troops took possession of
the fort, without the lead refinance. Mr. Fitzmau
rice, agreeable to the orders he had received, took pof
feffon of two batteries which were below the fort and
near to the town, where he found-five pieces of cannon
spiked up, but they were soon rendered fit for service.
There were eight ffiips in the road, four of which pre
pared" to set fail when our cava'ry took possession of
the fort; anid Mr. de Albert, on receiving advice from
Mr. d'e Blancheland, ordered them to anchor at Scar
borough. On the 26th, Mr. de Blancheland took mea
s. res to confine the enemy within their entrenchments.
Three hundred men were employed in this bufihefs,
and the remainder marched to the town of Scarbo
rough, where they only found three of the Eoglifh fa
milies, who Surrendered ; all the other houses being de
serted. On the 27th, Mr. de Blancheland, affiled by
Mr. Fitzmaurice who aded in thechara^er of a major
general, and the chevalier le Conte Fontaine, caused
the Fri-est discipline to be observed, and retrained the
Soldiery from plundering as much as possible in such
circumstances. On the 28th, while Mr. de Blanche
land was making dispositions to place two cannon on an
eminence, Mr. de Albert de Rious moored' in the bay
about two in the afternoon, and landed two eight
pounders and eighty men, who drew the cannon to the
place pointed out, from whence they might fire on the
English entrenchment. The enemy being informed of
this motion, sent out a body of armed negroes, whd
were repulfed.with some loss. The enemy fired some
cannon, loaded with old iron, which wounded two of
ficers and two soldiers. There was some reason tofuf
ped that admiral Rodney, when informed of this ex
pedition, would fend a powerful fu cour, which
would greatly endanger our little fleet and army.
This consideration determined Mr. de Blancheland im
mediately to attempt Forming the English redoubt.
By means of a reinforcement of two hundred men,
which Mr. de Albert supplied him with, he advanced
near to the enemy, to reconnoitre their situation, which
was found to be very advantageous, and the passage
to it very difficult. Nevertheless the whole army was
put in motion on the 30th about seven in the evening,
and Mr. de Blanchland made every disposition for a
florm; but the darkness of the night, and the innume
rable obstacles which impeded his march, determined
him to defer his attack till he could be better assured
of success. He had likewise information that our na
val force would appear to support and accelerate his
expedition. These motives induced him not to be pre
cipitate in his operations. He, therefore, ordered Mr.
Fitzmaurice to march back the troops to Scarborough,
and he remained with the cavalry on an eminence, from
which he could plainly difeover the portion and force
of the enemy. He was in this situation when be receiv
ed information of the arrival of our fleet under the mar
quis de Bonille, who came to put the finifl^ng Froke
to the expedition to Tobago.
THIS colony, famous for a naval engagement in
1677, in which Marechal de Eftrees overcame the
Dutch fleet ueder the command of admiral Tromp,
is situated in the latitude of it degrees, 10 minute ,
and in the longitude of 63 from the meridian of P^ris.
It is one of the nearest islands to the continent, and its
foil is more fertile than that of the other Antilles ; it
is about 3,5 leagues in circumference. The land ad-
jacent to the sea is ge-era'iy'very low, but it rises by
a very agreeable, gradual afeent to the mountains,
where 12 fine rivers take their rife : These rivers water
and enrifh those parts of the island which lay to the
windward.. There are nine very commodious harbours
where vessels may winter with the greater Security.
Tobago, by its situation, is out of the reach of that
tempest which fpeads desolation through the other
islands; and it has never yet felt the dreadful effects of
the hurricane Sufficiently to occasion any considerable
damage. The frequent change cf matters it has ex
perienced, has retarded the progress of cultivation un
til the year 1766, when it began to affunSe force form,
although it had been in the possession of the Englifh'
ever Face the treaty of 1762.
The firft settlements were made on the leeward parts
of the island, but they did not succeed, and ruined the
greater part of the planters. Experience having made
them wife, they fettled to the windward, and the great
est success rewarded their labours. Theaffiftance of
loans has been of great advantage to this colony,
when the inhabitants riere almofl ruined by infeHs and
were obliged to abandon the cultivation of sugar in
many places on this account. It is computed that
there were upwards of go sugar hoti'fes when this plague
laid wade the colony. We may re koh that 150 ma
mufaflures of this kind were carried on in its most pros
perous Fate. There are likewise force considerable
munufaftures of indigo, and a large number for
cotton. The last season, although the most unfruitful'
which the planters remember, has produced about
4000 hogsheads of sugar, and as many of rum, 5000
bales of cotton, of 300 weight ' each, and 50,000 weight
of indigo. These are the produce of the labor of from
1000 to ^2OO whites and 16,000 blacks.
The capital of Tobago is Scarborough: This island
being situated a'out five leagues north of Trinity,
rendered our navigation to the coa ft of Spain very dan
gerous ; and its corsairs had it in their power, on ac
count of their situation, to intercept the provisoes and
cattle, which came from that pars of the continent.
Exclusive of the ease with which it could confine a Com
merce of such importance to our colonies, it was of
great advantage to the British islands, for it was from
hence that the English procured ' their timber for re
pairing their vessels and building their manufactories.
This colony was relieved only by loans from the metro
polis, and is greatly in debt to it. It is in the capital
of Great-Britain, and in the centre of their commerce,
that our enemies know hovt to estimate s he importance
of their possessions, and the chasm they leave in the
national resources whey they are taken away We
shall learn from them how much they feel the loss of
Tobago. And our enemies will pay the most flattering'
homage to the activity of our generals, who have
seized the only moment in which it was possible for them
to join a pew conquest to those of Diminica, St. Vin
cents and Grenada. The cabinet of St. James's will
learn likewise, by' reading the capitulation of Tobago,
that the generous French pay a sacred regard to the
property of their enemies though difarnfed, and that
they have no other end in view but the extenfibn of
the territories of the crown. But what will the oppo
fition fay ? that claA of men’who still appear to have
the interests of their country at heart, when they are
informed that admiral Rodney, with eighteen thou
sand regular troops and' twenty Flips of the line,
made such vain attempts to defend the island; that
his vigilance is defective; that his Succours arriv
ed too late, anl that when he presented himfelf
with his whole force before our conquest, he fled
at the head of 22 ships of the line, because he could
not encounter 23. Here we will just observe that when
the count de Graffe maneuvered to give chace to
fir Gorge Rodney, the king's vessel she Heftor, of 74
gbns, was at Grenada, where she had b en left on ac
count of some dainage she had received in a storm ; so
that the inequality of feree 'Was not afuffi'ci^nt ex
cufe to juftify his precipitate retreat. Tois affair we
hope will corred the journali'fls of Antigua acd St.
Chri flapper's, and that they will not mention again
with so much emphasis, " That they do not know the
name of the French admiral whom the court of Versail
les intends to oppose to our forces in these sea% byt
whoever he is our brave and gallant - Rodney will give
a good account of him."
FOK EIGN INTELLIGENCE.
ANTWERP, April <.
IT is well known for a certainty, thatall the efforts
made for holding a Congress for a gener a pacifica
tion have mifearried. Neither this City ror Vienna
will have the honour to be chosen for that glorious
object. The demands of England have appeared so
exorbitant, that the powers which offered to become
mediators, have abfofutely reje&ed them.
Paris, April 17. It is expected that before the end
of this month, Holland will turn out an armament able
to ravage the coasts of England or Scctland. It is
said the dates general have already 22 ships of war
from 50 to 70 guns, and ten from 32 to 44.
LON D O N, March 20
r T"' H E courts of France and Spain have refufed, as
1 they are bound in national honour, to- fend 'ambidfa
dors to Peterfburgh, unless ambaffadots from America
are admitted into rhe general conference. If this concef
fion is not made to the Americans, it will be impossible
for a treaty to proceed on the principles of a general
pacification ; and it ambassadors are admitted from
America, it can only be in the acknowledged character
of plenipotentiaries from an ind pendent itate.
Mr. Necker, in his late ingenious and patriotic pam
phlet on finance, which he had the honour to prefect to
the king his master, Speaking of toe improper esta
blishment of peufions, nobly calls upon the public to
point out a single instance where he has granted any ;
a glorious , example of difiatereftednefs, and affords a
Friking contrast to the corruption and venality of some
ministers of what are called free Fates.
Much of Mr. Burke's late ceconomical bi ! l was in
the fame Fyle of arrangement as Mr. Necker's, which
happening without either of these great men coffering
together on the subject, proves tne utility of both
schemes; but behold the difference of countries, a free
Fate almost ruined with taxes, throws out the bill,
whilF a despotic monarch accepts the fame with thanks
for the good of his people.
April 21. A private letter from Dublin, informs us,
of a circumstance, which is likely to make a -great:
noise in the political world, which is, that some of the
principal merchants and traders of that capital, have
got private information of a treaty being on foot be
tween the courts of Londen and Liibon, wherein a
mon^F other articles the trade of Ireland to Portugal
is laid under separate reftriaions to what the Engliftt
trade is. This manoeuvre is reckoned a piece of com
mercial jockeyfllip, which the leaders of the people
have taken up very seriously.
, Extract of a letter from Paris, March 31.
“ The plan of operations for the ensuing campaign
does not appear to be yet finally fettled, though the
feafob for offenfive operations is so near at hand. Ca
diz and BreF, we are assured/ are to be the grand ren
dezvous of the fleets. Authentic advices from all
quarters seem to portend that the ensuing campaign
will teem with great events. To prevent the opening
of fr^fh wounds, and the further effufion of blood, a ne
gociatioh has been set on foot, but it does hot seem at
present as if it Would be attended with any success,
unless the court of London should relax greatly in the
fy Fem they seem so obflinately to have adopted, and of
which at present there is not the fmallefiprobability.”
The EaF-hdia company have been for some time in
war with the Mararfas; a war which,many people fay,
has been but W> much Encouraged by the majority of
she council of Bengal. This has drained their trea
sury not a little, though the advantages gained in re
turn have been very inconsiderable. Upon the present
disturbances in Madras, it is thought a peace ought
not only to be concluded on with the Marottas, but a
treaty of alliance, as they are the profeffed enemies of
Hyder Ally and his adherents.
May % An account fays, that an express arrived
this morning at the admiralty-office, with advice that
the count de Graffe, or M. de Piquet, with seven men
of war, within 44 leagues of the Land's End, had
fallen in with, and captuted commodore Hotham, and
the homeward bound St EuFatius fleet. It is said that
all the men of war are twenty and that only ten or
twelve of the merchantmen have escaped. But,
From another quarter we learn, that the convoy
escaped, and that 25 fail, out of 34/ have been taken.
All ideas of peace ^re blown over, and it is dot now
even so much as hinted, , that fir Joseph Yorke is in
any forwardnefs to fee out on any negotiation. Our
enemies seem to be playing a deeper game than admini-
Frdipn is aware of, viz. that of fighting us with our
own exorbitant expences.
Extract of a letter from Fort William, Bengal, dated
October 28, 1780.
" Affairs in the weft of India have been carried on
with great success ; brigadier-general Goddard's de
tachment have made conquests, exceeding the most
sanguine expectations ; almost every fort of any im
portance belonging to the Marrattas are now in our
possession ; and if we are obliged to make a peace with
them, in order to Crush Hyder Ally, it may be done
on very advantageous terms."
We hear from Portsmouth, that on Wednesday la ft,
the midshipman, who was lately convicted by a general
court-martial, of an attempt to murder the officers of
the Prothee, and carry the Flip to the enemy, was
hanged on board the Sultan man of war. His accom
plices, in this daring villainy, have been flogged from
fllip to Snip, and are again to undergo that dreadful dif
cipbne iira few days.
May 15. We are very Sorry to lay the following me
lancholy intelligence before the public, which however:
we ao from the bel l authority, and on the most indis
putable information- . That an express arrived last
night from the right honourable Mr. Eden, Secretary
to the lord lieutenant of Ireland, at lord H-1I (borough's
office, with an account that commodore Hotham who
had the conduß of the St. Euftatia fleet, confining of
thirty two fail to this country, h^s put into Bearheaveri
in Ireland, accompanied by four Flips of the ^line-
That in his passage here, just off Scilly, he met with
the squadron under the command of monsieur Le Mtote
piquet, confiding of fix Ships of the line, and four fri
gates; that the commodore finding this squadron too
numerous for him to engage with any chance of suc
cess, made a general signal for all the trade to disperse
which was accordingly obeyed, and he had beared do
tidings of any of tiiem since, eight only escaped, which
are arrived with him at Eearheaven.
Another dispatch was this morning received by Mr.
Secretary Stephens, from lord Shuldham, command
ing at Plym nth, informing their lordships, that a
(hip had got Safe in there belonging to the fl et bound
from St. Euflatia to this country, under the command
of commodore Hotham, the master of which has re
ported to his lordship, that-they met with the squad
ron of La Moite Piquet (as above) and that out of
32 vessels he had captured 20 fail, which he himfelf
afterwards counted under convoy of the French Flips,
40 leagues wefiward of the Lizard, fleering southeast
for Brest harbour.
The navy board took up, on Thursday last, four
more large vessels as armed ffiips, ro be Stationed in
Scotland, to protea the trade and fifheries.
May 16. The Ocean, Mitchel; and Advice, Cook;
from Hamburgh, arrived in the river, left the Wefcr
the iitn in ftant with his majeFy's ffiips Amphion, Os
trich, and Fortune, Britannia and Molly armed (hip',
and 24 armed transports, with Hedian and Brunswick
troops and parted with them the 12th instant, 60 leagues
Wh b> S. of Tinmouth cattle. Tre fleet are gone N.
about The two flips afterwards joined the Camel
man of war, and a cutter.
May 20. Lord Mansfield is the oldest cabinet mini-
Fer (ipce the days of cardinal Fleury, who was 82
wh°n he died in nis office; but the French miniFer's
abilities for many years before his death were greatly
imph-ed, while tie Enghfh minifier at the age of 77,
retains his Acuities in their full life and vigour-
The object of admiral Parker' 'quidron which late
ly faded from Portsmouth, is certainly to intercept