The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-08-17 00:00:00, page 2

C ADI Z, April 25.
THE following are the principal particulars contain
ed in the letters from the camp at St. Roch, to
the 23d instant.
April 17. Thi* evening oife of our cruizers pofled at
Tangiers, got into Algebras with a Swedish packet
boat which seemed bound to Gibraltar. This day
we had one soldier killed in the lines, and two slightly
wounded.—ln the night, these were continued in acti
on who were between the batteries of St. Martin and
St- Fafcal ; and we had three wounded, one of them
mortally.
18th and 19th. The works were continued without
any loss.
20th. At day break the signal was given from the
Tower at the Ponte Carmero, for feeing an enemy's
vessel, which signal was repeated till seven o'clock,
when an Englifa frigate made its appearance; two of
our xebecs which guarded the point, unfortunately
could not get out to sea till the frigate had gained the
middle of the Bay. The armed boats lay at anchor
at Rio Palmones; and before they came out with two
other vessels from Algefiras, the frigate had cast anchor
in the port. On these days the English were observed
to be making several experiments with one of the new
armed boats, which they have had from England, and
which they have fortified with one gun each. On the
fame day the weather having cleared up, we perceived
over against Pegnon, five of our men of war, and one
frigate, which had been cruising in the Straits, but
which had been driven away by the violence of the
wind. Had they arrived a few hours sooner, the Eng
lish frigate could not have gained the bay Co easily.
During the fright the works were continued as usual,
2nd we had one man killed and two (lightly wounded.
21st. In the morning we perceived our fleet, but
loft fight of it in the evening, so that we imagine it is
gone to Malaga.
22d. Nothing extraordinary occurred. We had
one gunner killed, and three wounded, one of them
dangerously.
23d. We learn that a party of troops from Mahon
is Already arrived at Malaga to reinforce our camp.
M E N T Z, May 3 0.
The diflemper, which is called the Northern Fever,
has prevailed in this city some days past. A great
number of persons (among others his most ferenu elec
toral highyefs) „§ qow Uken with it.
Extract of a letter from captain Newton, of the Adven
ture private ship of war, to one of his owners in
Plymouth, dated off Cape Clear, and broughtby the
captain of the Surprize, April 25, 1782.
“ Yeflerday at fix o'clock saw a vessel Handing off
from the land, and by the squareness of her fails sup
posed to be an enemy, so called all hands and made
what fail we could after her, and by her different ma
noeuvres was certain she was an enemy. At seven o'clock
she hove to, when we perceived her to be a brig, and
at half past seven saw her colours, which proved to be
the thirteen stripes. We then got all clear for engage
ing her. At a quarter past eight came up a long fide
of her, and hailing the captain desired he would ftr ke,
and assured him he should have good quarters. The
answer I received was, "That he did not doubt the
humanity of an Englishman, but that he could not a
void exercising a brave crew ; " and immediately fired
a broadlide into me, which killed one of my men, and
wounded four ; we soon returned it, and a very brisk
fire continued on both sides till nine o'clock, when the
Surprize came up to our assistance.
“ The enemy now flrove to get away, but could
not, her fore-top mail having been carried away ; she
therefore engaged us both till half past nine, and then
flruck. She proves to be the Independence, captain
Roche, who is reported to be born at Cork, has been
in the American service from the commencement of the
rebellion,and a dangerous enemy, being well acquaint
ed with our coasts, and a man of determined courage ;
this is the third vessel he has been taken in.
" The Independence is a new brig, built at Brest
for captain Roche, mounting 16 fix pounders, and
manned chiefly with Irish. Some of the crew told me
they had been out 18 days, and had taken five prizes.
On board the adventure there were 11 killed, and 16
wounded ; the Independence had 17 killed, and 19
wounded."
PRAGU E, May 2 r.
The epidemical diflemper from Peterfburgh hath
reached us. In eight days there were, in the regiment
01 artillery in the garrison here, about 600 blooded
and carried to the hospital ; 150 of them were taken
thither in one day. There is hardly a house in the
city without some persons ill.
HAGU E, April 2 8
Last Thursday, it is said, the province of Holland
came to a resolution relative to the answer to be given
to the memorial of the Ruffian minister, of which the
following is the fubflance, viz. “ That the interest of
the republic made it necessary to concert a plan of
" warlike operations with France for the ensuing cam
" paign, and to admit a minister from the united states
" of America, and that their high mightinesses were
" obliged to decline the proposal made by Great-Bri
" tain to enter into a negociation for a separate treaty
" of peace, upon the footing of the treaty of 1674,
" and that notice of this resolution be given to the
" Ruffian minister in the politest terms."
CONSTANTINOPLE, April 18.
Advices received by the way of Aleppo are not
very favourable to the Dutch, as they confirm that
the English have seized their rich factories on the
Ganges, and among other Lurat, and the fortrefs
of Chochin, on the coast of Malabar; and other
conquests on the part of their enemies are to be feared.
Foreign Intelligence
LON DO N, May 9.
CHARLESTOWN (South-Carolina) July 3.
Letters from Georgia mention an engagement to have
lately happened between a body of Indians and the re
bel army under general Wayne: The following is the
most authentic account of that event which we have
been able to obtain :
A party of Creeks, about 160 in number, headed
by Emiftefeco, or the Big Fellow, who were coming
down from their nation towards Savannah, with a large
drove of horses for the life of his majefly's troops, on
the night of the 23d of last month, by accident fell up
on the rear of the rebel encampment, at Mrs. Gibbon's
plantation, about five miles from the town. The In
dians conceiving the pa ty that lay there to be no more
than a picket, inflantly attacked them; the rebels on
the other hand, ending themfekes furprized, andimag
ining it was a plan concerted by the troops in the gar
rison, immediately gave way and fled on all sides. The
Indians pushed forward and gained possession of the ene
my's camp, and even of their field pieces ; being Hill
of opinion, however, that the party they had routed,
was but a detachment from the main body, and that
they could not therefore venture to rally before they
were reinforced, they betook themselves to plunder.
Wayne, in the mean time, having difeovered that the
attack was only from one quarter, and not a part ofa
general attack as he had firfl thought, rallied his troops,
and in his turn, fell upon his enemies while in disorder.
The Indians, after making some refinance, were obliged
to retreat before superior numbers and discipline, and
abandon their plunder and the field pieces, leaving how
ever not more than two or three of their number killed.
On the next morning they commenced the attack a se
cond time; but were repulsed with loss ; upwards of
30 being said to be killed and miffing.
In the course of one of the actions, a single combat
was fought between the Indian chief and the rebel ge
neral. Wayne's herfe was (hot under him, and the to
mahawk of Emiftefeco was uplifted and in the moment
of putting an end to his exigence, when, at that instant,
a rebel dragoon came up, and saved the life of his com
mander, by dispatching the Indian warrior with his
(word.
July 6. On Thursday his majesty's ship; Princess
Caroline and Zebra, arrived offour bar from Georgia
and yeflerday the Zebra entered (he harbour.
About fix days ago the Pripcef* Caroline and Zebra,
fell in with and took a large French privateer from
Port-au Prince, called the Tartar, mounting 24 guns,
quite new, and nearly of the size of one of our 32 gun
frigates. She had on board when she failed 200 men, but
having manned three small prizes, she had made in a
cruize of fix weeks, the crew confined only of 180 men
when she was taken. These, excepting three or four, were
carried to his majefly's ships, and between sixty and se
venty ofßritifh sailors put o n board of her ; but most un
fortunately, the day after, a violent gust of wind overfet
her, and she funk in seven fathom water, off Tybee. Most
of the people were be]ow and were immediately drown
ed; others saved their lives by laying hold of her upper
parts of the mafis and rigging. Of these, fourteen con
trived to make a fort of raft; and pushed off from the
wreck: three, who were not fuffered to go with the o
thers, remained in their former situation, and were af
terwards taken up by a transport. Of the fourteen no
accounts have hitherto been received. It is thought
probable that they have landed somewhere about Beau
fort.
P AR I S, May 26.
The reports of a general peace are renewed, and pre
vail more than ever. Some persons here, who pre
tend to be well informed assert, that if an agreement
has hot already taken place with refpeQ to America,
it will very soon. The holding a congreis at Vienna or
Bruff Is is now out of the question ; all the negociati
ons are, it is said, to be carried on at Paris ; and it is
hoped, from the humane and benificent heart of the
king, that his majesty will soon restore peace to Eu
rope and both the Indies.
May 30. M. de Graffe, in his letters to his friends,
complains that he was not properly supported, either
by the sailors on board his own ship or a part of his
fleet. He endsone of his letters with faying, “ I fought
for four hours with fix ships against fourteen, and
hope I have behaved in such a manner as that my
friends need not blush. The English fleet was more
fortunate than that of the king; but it was also better
disciplined."
KINGSTON, (Jamaica) June 22
Arrived yeflerday, after a very favourable passage,
his majefly's ship Preflon of 50 guns, Leslie, efq ;
commander, with the London fleet under convoy, con
fifling of about 32 fail. They left Spithead on the 27th
of April, and arrived fafe at St. Lucia on the 7th infl.
wherd they waited a week, and then proceeded for this
iffand. The fleet for the Windward islands likewise
failed from Spithead on the 17th of April, under pro
teflon of his majefly's shi p Prudent of 64 guns, and
the Enterprize frigate.
Great praise is due to captain Leslie, for his particu
lar care and attention to the fleet ; on board of which
are several passengers, and a part of the 51st regiment,
and the remainder of the 99th regiment, or Jamaica
volunteers, under the command of colonel Balfour, who
is likewise arrived.
HAMBUR G, April 23.
So great a famine prevails io some provinces of Swe
den, that they are obliged to grind the bark of trees to
make bread of.
COPENHAGE N, April 23.
The prince Viofemfky, major general in the service
of Russia, arrived here this week, on his way to Hol
land.
UTREC H T, My 2.
A loan has been offered at Amsterdam of five mil
lions of Dutch florins, in favour of the united states of
North- America, for ten years, at five per cent.
The fleet which we mentioned in our last paper, to
have lately failed ' r ° m Jamaica, con Med of about I^o
fail. It left Bluefields on the 25th of May, under Convoy
of his magefty'sfliips of war, Sandwich of go guns
^ ffe of „ 74 'and Intrepid of 64, besides frigates and
other small, vessels.
In the fleet were three vessels bound for this port.
Two of them parted from it about 17 days ago- and a
greed to proceed in company to this place. 'Off our
bar they difeovered the rebel privateer brig Dolphin
Engs, roafler, and having given chafe, pursued her to
some distance. In the mean time, however, the crew of
one of the vessels, consisting chiefly of Americans, rose
upon the master, and took possession of her. She then
flood northwardly. Her contort followed, and pro
ceeded about ten leagues in that course, before it was
difeovered that the mafler of the other vessel had no
longer the command, and that the crew were fleering
for are bel port. She then tacked, and on returning to
our bar, was taken within a mile of it, by the priva
teer the two vessels, when in company, had chafed
The fame privateer, on the fame day, and about the
fame place, took the third vessel, which we mentioned
was bound for this port.
It afforded matter of aflonifhment to the curious in
Jamaica, to observe the very different states of the
French ships which were taken, and of the English ships
which concluded them to Port-Royal, The former
were in general difmafted and almost tern to pieces- the
Glorieux had not a mast that peeped above her gun
a°nevery one °f their commanders had been
killed, But of the latter not one had loft a lower
mast ; and the number of killed and wounded, we
have already seen, was but trifling: captain Cornwallis,
of the Canada, who engaged the Ville de Paris for five
hours, kept out at sea for several weeks after the en
gagement, and when he arrived at Port-Royal, his ves
sel, by not being much hurt, and having her sides new
painted, appeared as just out of dock.
' u ! y ^ s ; On T u esday arrived here the Schooner Dis
patch, Robert Gorden Middleton, master, from King
flon, Jamaica, after a passage of 23 days.
It was reported at Jamaica, before captain Middle
"at a con siderable part of the French fleet
had failed from Cape Francois with the homeward
bound trade that had been collected at that place, to the
amount of 200 fail; and that monf. Bouganville was
sent home under arrest, for his behaviour in the aHion
of the 12th of April.
Near 2000 troops arrived at Kingston in the last fee
An expedition was on foot at Jamaica when the above
left it ; a number of troops were adually embark
ed, but their destination was a profound secret.
The fleet under the command of admiral Rodney
then laying in Port-Royal harbour, amounted to
fail of line of battle ships, amongflwhich were five ad
mirals flags.
Philadelphia, August 17.
Extraß of a letter from a well informed gentleman in
England, to his friend here, dated 25th April, 1782,
about 6 weeks before Mr. Grenville was appointed
to open a negociation for peace.
After giving a long and very full account ofthe late
change in the Hritifh administration, the writer pro
eeds, " Thus ended an administration, that were a curse
and disgrace to their country ; and who, by a nunexam
pled, corrupt influence, overpowered the real voice of
the nation, and to gratify their own vindictive and tyra
nicai dif/ofitions, were dear to every intreaty and solici
tation, inconfifient with their diabolical principles ; and
by a long perseverance in that c-uelfy flem,have brought
this once great, powerful, and opulent country, almost
to the brink of ruin, and contempt at all the courts
in Europe Had they been in the pay of the bellige
rent powers, I am sure they could not have done more
for their interefis : landed efiates have fallen from ten to
twelve years purchase, and flock, the political barome
ter, upwards of 40 per cent. The annual expence of
tne nation, has been for some years, and now is, in
cluding interest, about 34,000,000!. which must soon
fink any kingdom upon earth. In short no change in
the Roman empire, or any other we have any hiflory
of, ever experienced so rapid a decline, and God only
knows when it is to end, tho' the new adminifirationy
which is composed of men of the firft abilities, &c. &c.
will, 1 am sure, do every thing in their powerto accomp
lish a general peace, and save a finking nation: But
the diadem of the crown, Nortu-America, being irre
coverably gone, and most ot the Weft India islands irf
the hands of their enemy, which, together with the im
mense national debt of 230,000,000! makes its rapid de
cline inevitable, and much to be lamented, as the real
voice of the people, at large, were always averse to the
measures puriu^d. From the late happy change, and
the known anxious wish of the present gentlemen in
power, to accommodate matters with America, I hope
and flatter myfelf, that unhappy, and diftraAed coun
try, that has so lonx been a feene of blood, and rapine,
will soon enjoy peace and tranquility ; blessings which
it has long betn a Granger to. The general report is,
that all alts, reflraining the American trade, as far back
as Charles the 2d. are to be immediately repealed a
truce by sea and land; proposed, and all the ports
thrown open for mutual intercourfe 3 preparatory te a
, f " ° R K, August 13.
Saturday last a number of transports, convoyed by
two of his majefly's ships of war, arrived here from Sa
vanna in Georgia, with all the troops belonging to
garrison, excepting two regiments, which were
left at Charleftown, South-Carolina.
In the above fleet came passengers, brigadier general
Alured Clarke, lieutenant colonel Nifbet Balfour, and
lieutenant colonel John Harris Cruger, &c. &c. &c.
XVednefday last was sent in here by the privateer brig
Tyger, captain Worley, the schooner Little Sally,
captain Norris, from Philadelphia for Cape Francois,
with flour and bread.
The ship Harriot, captain Veach, from Cape Francois,
for Virginia, with rum, some sugar, wine and coffee,
was sent in here last Saturday, by the privateer brig
Fair American, captain Burton.