The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-06-18 00:00:00, page 2

From a late London Paper.
7c the EDITOR of LLOYD'S EVENING POST-
Music has charms to loathe the savage breaß.
Otway.
CHARLESTOWN, (South Carolina) May 28.
Last Friday afternoon we had a severe gust of wind,
accompanied with heavy ram and hail stones of an
extraordinary size, some of them measuring above 3
inches in circumference. During the squall, a small
schooner, inward bound from St. John's river, East-
Fiorida, was drove ashore on Sullivan's island, the peo
ple on board were saved, but the veftel and most of the
cargo loft.
Yeflerday departed this life, after a very short ill
ness, Mr. John Morrison, assistant commissary of
provifons.
S I R,
% Great deal has been Lid concerning the powers
< of mafic on the human mind; and, indeed, it
mus ?be allowed that the person who remains infenfiHe
to the foft and delicate firains it produces, mut be to
tally unfit for society ; fincecommon experience teach
es us, that tin fe who cannot be moved by the powers
of music, are generally deaf to every feeling of humani
ty, Brangers to every aft of generosity; and seem on
every occasion to live only for themselves. I was led
in'o the(e thoughts on the powers of music, from ac
cidentally Rumbling on a paffige in an ingenious
French .writer, of whose sentiments the following is a
close tranßation: “ Those who fay it is natural for us
to love music, and especially the found of instruments,
obbrv°, that beasts themselves are touched with it.
Being one day in the country, I had an opportunity
of enquiring into the truth of this matter ; for while a
man was playing on a trump-marine, I made my ob
servations on a cat, a dog, a horse, an ass, a hind,
cows, small birds, a cock and hens, that were<n a yard
under a window on which I was leaning. 1 did not
perceve that the cat was affected by the found of the
inflrurrent, and I even judged by her appearance that
Pie would have g ven the founds of all the instruments
in t e world for a moue, ffie net shewing the lead sign
of joy, and deeping in the fun. The horse flopped
Plort before the window, and lifted up his head from
fame to time as he was feeding on the grass. The dbg
seated himfelf on his bind legs, like a monkey, keep
ing hk eyes fixed on the musician, and kept in this
posture f t r upwards of an hour. Ihe ass did not dis
cover the leaf? indication of his bei^ touched, but
kept eating his thistles peaceably. The hind pricked
up her large wide ears, and teemed very attentive.
The cows Hopped a little, and aftei gazing as though
they had been acquainted with us, went forward
S^e small birds, who were in an aviary, and others
on the trees and in the bushes, almost tore their little
throats with tinging. But the cc^c, who minded only
his hens, and the hens, who were solely employed in
Scraping, did not Ihew, in any manner, that they took
the least pleasure in hearing the founds of musical in
firuments."
Tne conclusion I would draw from this quotation is,
that some men, like the filly ass, and some other parti
cular animals, are totally deflitute of feeling, and form
ed only for inßinH enjoyment, without being in the
leaf? influenced by the foperior pleasures of reason:
Whoever (hall make proper observations on what they
will have frequent opportunities to notice, will soon
te convinced of this fad, that the man whoi not to
be moved by the charms of music, is generally a total
Granger to the tender emotions of love. We generally
f^d such men of a dull, heavy, and gloomy disposition,
on whose countenance the smile is seldom fen, and
whose conversation very rarely turns on cheerful and
enlivening fubjefts. It as indeed been Laid by some,
that music foftens and effeminates the mind ; but how
can that be true, since we find the soldier's courage
rohfed by the martial found of the fife and drum? In
spired by those founds, he precipitately rufhesinto the
face of danger ; despises every fear of death, and
tniuks of glory only. Who can behold the lovely fe
male, seated at her harpsichord, and accompanying
that instrument with the melody of her inchanting
voice, without considering her charms as inexpressibly
increased? Music may not only be considered as the
friend to love, but oftea even lifts up the pious mind
to the abode of its Maker, who has commanded us to
(hew our gratitude in songs of praises and thanksgiv
ings. The Orator, who has music in his voice, will al
ways be more attended to than he who has none ; and,
without some attention to the harmony of the founds,
we cannot even read so as to be intelligible to others,
Thus every one has more or less, a degree of music %)
his foul, which is born with him, and which only wants
the assistance of art to bring it to perfection; but the
man who is destitute of this gift from nature, and
who is totally insensible to the charms of music, may be
considered as a person whom nature has hurried into
the world, incomplete and unfinished.
B. J
His majesty's ship Canada, the honourable captain
Cornwallis, one of fir Samuel Hood's (quadroon anchor
ed at Port Royal on Sunday last; She left the squad
ron cruizing off Cape-Tiberoon, all well.
Certain information has been received of 4 French
ghips of the line having arrived at Curacoa, in a most
mattered condition, after the late engagement, and
from whence, not being able to procure the neceffafy
assistance, they proceeded for the Cape the 2d instant,
viz. Le Hercule of 74 guns, Le Marfeilois 74, L'Eveil
le 64, and Le Fluton 64; the mails of the three former
being in such a state that they could hardly be kept
Handing.
SINCE our last certain advice has been received of
the loss of the St.Efprit a French 84 gun ship, which
was so wounded and shattered in the engagement of
tide 12th ult. that she funk the day after the action, in
fight of the Caton and Jason, which were so difabed
as to be incapable of affording her the HmaHeft affifl..
Unce.
KINGSTON, (Jamaica) May 11.
Monday last the following meffge was delivered to
the honourable Senate and house of Representatives,
from his excellency the governor.
Gentlemen of the Senate, and
Gentlemen of the house of Representatives,
1V ''" particular pleasure I take an early oppor-
VV tunity to lay before you, in a letter from the
secretary of congress for foreign affairs, the firft offici
al annunciation I have received of the birth of a DAU
PHIN of France.
Yesterday captain Thompson came to town from
Charleftown, South Carolina, which he left on the 16th
ult. He was taken on the 26th of February last, in
the privateer brig Chace, of this place, and carried in
to that port, by toe Britiih ship Duke de Chartres, of
20 guns. He informs, that the American prisoners in
Charleftown are treated with humanity, have good pro
vifioos, though too (canty in allowance: That he was
allowed free liberty, by his parole, to travel where he
pleased within the lines: That the frefh provisions in
the town are extremely poor and very Scarce ; beef
was fold at two (hillings sterling a pound He saw a tur
key fold for fix dollars ; but w s told that the price was
sometimes more than double that sum.
Captain Stoddard, in the privateer schooner called
the Scammell's Revenge, belonging to this port, has
captured and sent in here a (loop, called the Fox, la
de: with some cordage, bricks, turpentine, &c. &c.
We hear from Newbury Port, that on tie 24th and
29th ult. a number of industrious women belonging
chiefly to the Presbyterian society in that town, as
fumbled at their minißer'shoufe, with their fpinning
wheels, and quantities of cotton and flax as the mate
rials for the work of the day, and after briskly exer
citing their laudable inftiuments of virtuous industry,
from an early hour till five o'clock P. M. they generous
ly presented Mrs. Murray with the products of their
labor, which amounted in both the days, to three
hundred and five fkeines of cotton yarn, and nearly
two hundred fkeines of linen. On each of the days,
the business opened and closed with public prayers and
praises to God ; and in the evening they were addres
sed with an exportation suitable to the occasion. The
greatest good humour, harmony and benevolence ani
mated the whole company, and a beautiful decorum
was observed in ail parts of tieir conduct. It is hoped
that so laudable an example will not Til to rouse the
generous spirit of the virtuous and patriotic females
through the land to (ome similar exertions, at a time
when the public distresses have in many places, fallen
with peculiar weight on the ministers of religion.
JUNE 6.
Sunday last a flag of truce returned here from New-
York, and brought a few prisoners.
We learn that about 1100 Americans were on board
the ptifon and hospital-ships at New-York, when the
flag failed from thence ; and that from 6 to 7 were ge
nerally buried every day.
Tuesday last the privateer sloop Insurance, captain
Cahoon, of this port, arrived from a cruize, and
brought in a retaken (loop, called the Fox, which he
ell in with ^n Saturday last, off Sandy-H^ok. She
Captain Thompson further informs, that, whde he
was in Charleftown, one of general Greene's servants
came into the town with the general's horse, which he
had Polen, together with the pistols, holders, saddle,
&c. That about the fame time, an officer of the British
guards, with 18 men, deferred in a body to our army:
that those inhabitants who are dif^ffeded to the British
government, are allowed to retire into the country
when they please: and that desertions from both ar
mies are very frequent.
And we also request your excellency to express to
the minister plenipotentiary of his most chriftian ma
jefly our congratulations on an event whieh tends to
the flability of a monarchy with which we are connect
ed by every sentiment of affeftion.
Last Tuesday the honourable Nathan Cuffing, Jona
than Greenleaf, esquire, captain Batch, doffor
Manning and Mr Goodale, a committee of both
houses of assembly, appointed for that purpose, wait
ed on his excellency with the following message, in
answer to his excellency 's, viz.
May it please your excellency,
THE senate and house of representatives in general
court assembled, have received with particular
pleasure the communication your excellency has
been pleased to make, that the minister plenipotentia
ry of his most chriftian majesty has announced to the
united states in congress assembled, the birth of a dau
puip of France.
We share in the lively joy which this happy event
has given the most chriftian king, and the nation over
which he reigns, a prince in whom the united Rates
have found a most faithful ally, and a nation who have
freely expended their treasure and their blood in the de
fence of the rights of mankind. We request your ex
cellency, with advice of council, to take such measures
as in your wisdom shall be thought proper to express
in a public manner the common joy upon this aufpiciou s
occasion.
You, gentlemen, as well as myfeif, and all the good
citizens of this commonwealth, take a large part in
the joy which this happy event has given to his most
chri Rian majesty, and to the whole nation which hego
verns with so much glory ; a monarch in whom these
united states have found a most faithful and generous
ally ; and a nation which engaged so early and warmly,
and has so freely expended her treasure and her blood
in the cause of America. I can only fay, that I frail
most readily and cheaffully concur with you, gentle
men, in every measure which your lively feelings (hall
dißate, and your judgement determine to be proper
for expreffng in some public manner our common joy
upon this auspicious occasion.
JOHN HANCOCK.
Council-Chamber, Boston, June 3, ^782.
T R O V I D E N C E, May 25.
BALE M, (New-England) May 30.
BOSTO N, June 3
There is a fleet of the enemy's (hips now in the found,
they are 24 in number; they appeared at 4tMs afters
noon, about 12 miles to the westward. They are Hand
ing eastward in a regular line, and are now opposite
to my house, with a fair but very light breeze. A fri
gate leads and another in the rear, the rest consists of
brig% top-fail (loops and schooners, principally large.
I am of opinion that they have on board 1500 or 2000
troops. Tney intend mifehief somewhere. New-Ha
ven is as likely to be their object as any place. I have
thought it may duty to give you this notice by express,
that you may be on your guard. I have to entreat
you to forward this intelligence immediately to his ex
cellency at Hartford by express, and also to New-Lon
don, and the other towns on the sea coast between that
and New Haven, that they may not be furprized for
want of intelligence. You will excuse this letter com
ing open, as I have not time otherwise to give the in
telligence to Milford and Stratford.
Tam fir, your humble servant,
NEW- LONDON, May 7.
At dulk of the evening on Saturday last, about 70
masters and mates of vessels, who were prisoners in the
Retaliation prison-ship, being allowed to be on the (hip's
deck, they took an opportunity when the door in the
bulk-head was opened for some purpose, to push through
the door and disarm the guard, 17 or 18 in number,
whom they immediately secured below deck: having
entire pofeffion of the ship, between 8 and 9 o'clock
they began t® land prisoners ; and having landed about
80, nine of the principal aclote in the enterprize arm
ed themselves with the muskets which they had wrested
from the centry, and got out of the harbour undifeo
vered, in the (hip's boat, leaving about 30 of their com
rades on board. As the ship lay about two miles above
the town the inhabitants were una; prised of the trans
action till 12 o'clock, when the firft information they
had w<s from one of the prisoners who did not chufe
to go off. The inhabitants and others immediately
went in pursuit of the prisoners, and several boats were
sent out to prevent their escape by water ; during the
next day about 40 who were fcatter'd in the out-skirts
of the town were took up and returned to the ship;
since which about 20 more have been taken ; but the
boat with the nine abovementioned got off. A court
of enquiry with regard to the conduft of the officers of
the (hip, was immediately ordered by the commanding
officer at this poll, the result of which is not yet made
public.
The following letter was received by colonel M'Clel
lan, commandant at this post, at 12 o'clock, Wed
nesday night, by express.
SIR,
NEWPOR T, May 25.
Yeflerday morning came to town from Black Island
15 prisoners on parole, who were landed out of the
Hussar British frigate, the day before on tpe above ifl
anl; they inform that about fix days ago they dis
covered a fleet of near 80 fail of large fllips, frigates,
&c. fleering for Sandy-Hook, that the captain of the
frigate, after running within two leagues of them, and
making finals, without having them answered, judged
them to be French, and made from them, when they
were chafed a conliderable dißance by two frigates out
of said fleet. The Hussar had two prizes with Ker,
which she left behind, and are supposed to be taken.
Saturday last a galley from Boflon, and another
from Bedford, took two armed boats at Block Island,
one of which being damaged, they destroyed, after
taking cut her Rores. The enemy, 28 in number, land
ed on the island, with their small arms and swivels,
hoisted a flag and flood on the defenfive; but 22 men
landing from the gallies, they were soon put to flight,
and 17 of them taken, the remainder having secreted
themselves on the island. Two or three of the ememy
were wounded. The prisoners, with one of the armed
boats, were carried into New-London.
Wednesday afternoon four or five frigates were seen
off Watch Point, Randing into the found, supposed
with a design to join the fleet mentioned in general Sil
liman's letter : but there having been a thick fog with
light winds till ro o'clock yesterday, their movements
could not well be difeovered ; at 10 o'clock the above
four frigates were seen over the weft point of Filler's
Island, at 1 o'clock most of the fleet from the wefT^rd
joined r hem. At 2 o'clock the whole fl et, between 20
and 30 fail, had collected near the weft point of Fisher's
Island, and flood to the eastward ; and at 3 o'clock
(when this paper went to press) the whole were out of
fight.
Tuesday a fleet of the enemy was difeovered off Fair
field, confining of two frigates, their convoy, ship%
brigs, and Roops, 20 fail in all ; they are supposed to
have paffid this harbour yeherday morning, in the
thick weather, landing to the ea ftward ; their deflina
tion was not known, nor whether they have any troops
on board or not.
was bound from Bedford for Grenada, but had t^en
captured by the Hussar frigate, and ordered for New-
York; her cargo consists of lumber, fift and flour.
A British midshipman and five framed were on board
when she was retaken.
June 1. A brig from Tortola, laden with rum, su
gar an cocoa, is taken by the privateer brig Martial,
and carried into Connedicut.
On Tuesday last a fleet of ships and transports were
seen in toe found off Fairfield, fleering eastward ; where
they are destined is uncertain. In consequence, however,
of their appearance, the artillery, militia, &c. of this
town, are ordered to be in readiness to march at a mo
ment's warning; and it is said notice has been sent to
the fevera towns on and near the (liore, to be on thflc
guard in case of an attack.
F I S H-K I L L, June 13.
On Thursday the 6th instant, at 5 o'clock P.
we had a severe thunder gull here. Tee lightning
NEW- HA VE N, June 6.
NORWIC H, June 6.
G. S. SILLIMAN.