The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-05-21 00:00:00, page 3

“ We yesterday had the agreeable confirmation of
admiral Rodney's capturing the Ville de Paris, and
four others ot the line, funk two, and burnt one, of
the fquaaron, near Gaudaloupe,—the whole of the
French fleet routed, —our's in pursuit of the remain
der, —we expect a few more."
By a veflei in fever days from Providence, we learn,
that a force from Havanna, confining ofabout sixty
fail, with troops, had arrived there, and was prepa
ring to attack that island ; this advice boat ran through
the Spanish fleet, which confided chiefly of small ves
sels. The works were flrong, and in good condition,
and the garrison lately reinforced with 180 men.
The fli p Three Friends, from the Weft Indies, bound
for Philadelphia, with eighty hogsheads of sugar: she
was taken last Sunday, off the capes of Delaware, by his
majefly's ship Warwick, the honourable George Keith
Elphinftone, efq; commander.
The rebel privateer sloop Chance, of twelve guns and
sixty men, from Providence (Rhode Island) by bis ma
jefly's fllip Bellifarius,Thomas Graves,efq; commander.
A sloop, with tobacco, from Peterfburgh, (Virginia)
prize to the privateer Tyger, of this port.
Wednesday evening, a ship and a cutter from St. Tho
mas's, captured by his majefly's ship Aflrea, Mathew
Squire, efq ; commander.
The privateer Tyger, of this port, has also captur
ed a sloop, from Grenada, loaded with rum.
The prize to the Aflrea, is the ship Rady Clausen,
formerly the Columba, from St. Thomas's laden with
sugar coffee and dry gords, and carries 20 guns, had a
clearance for Oftend, but her packages were marked
for Baltimore; .Her papers were thrown overboard.
We are informed, the following from general fir Henry
Clinton, was sent in answer to Mr. Washington's
letter, demanding the giving up of captain Lippencut.
New York, April 25, 1782.
SIR,
VOUR letter of the 21st infant, with the enclosed tef
' timonials, refpeding captain Huddy's execution,
was delivered to me yeflerday, and though I am ex
tremely concerned for the cause, I cannot conceal my
surprise and displeasure at the very improper language
you have made use of, which you could not but be
sensible was totally unneceffar}.
The mildness of she British government does not ad
mit of a&s of cruelty or perfecuring violence, and as
they are notoriously contrary to the tenor of my own
conduct and disposition, (having never yet stained my
hands with innocent blood,) I must claim the juflice of
having it believed, that if tuch have been committed
by any persons under my command, they could not
have been warranted by my authority, nor can they
ever have the fanßion ©f my approb tion. My per
sonal feelings therefore required no such incitements to
.urge me to take every proper notice of the barbarous
outrage againfl humanity (which you have represent
ed to me) the moment it came to my knowledge; and
accordingly, when I heard of captain Hudy's death,
-which was only four days before I received your let
ter, I inhantly ordered a Arid enquiry to be made in
toall its circumstances, and shall bring the perpetra
tors of it to an immediate trial.
To facrifice innocence under the notionof preventing
guilt, in place of suppressing would be adopting barba
rity, and railing it to the greatest height. Whereas if
the violaters of the laws of war, are punished by the
generals under whole powers, they ad, the horrors,
wnich those laws were formed to prevent, will be a
voided, and every degree of humanity war is capable
of, maintained.
three French ffiip3 of the line were fa much disabled
as rendered it absolutely necessary to tow them into
Gaudaloupe, to which island the transports with the
troops that failed from Martinico, under convey of
admiral de Grade, had been ordered upon the firft ap
pearance of the British fleet. Two days after the ar
rival of the transports there, a frigate brought orders
for them to come out . in complying with which, they
were observed by some Eritifn frigates ftaiioued to
watch their motions ; they communicated intelligence
of the movement by signals to our fleet, which on the
12th bore down upon the French transports, and redu
ced count de Grade to th^ alternative or furfering them
to be captured or risk another aDion with admiral
Rodney; he chose the latter, and fir George having a
favourable w nd, interfered the French line, by which
manoeuvre one half of the ships were prevented from
coming to action.,
The object of the count de Grtffe was to form a junc
tion with twelve line of battle fllips, commanded by
admiral Solano, .which where to fail from Monto Cnrifti
with a number of transports, having 8000 troops on
board, under orders of general Don Galvez, and then
with the combined armament to attack Jamaica,
Extract of another letter, d ted Antigua, April
'7, 17^2.
The following prizes have been Cent into this port since
It is said that the following regiments may be expelled
by the next convoy from Ireland at Antigua, viz 32b,
36th, 66th, 67th, 68th, 77th and 81st.
We are iuformed'that tiie trade fleet from England is
fafe arrived at Jamaica, and that a very large fleet was
lately seen off cape Maize, luppofed to be British, fleer
ing for the fame island.
Could violations of humanity be juftified by exam
ples. many from the parts where your power prevails,
that exceed and probably gave rife to this in questi
on, could be produced.—ln hope that the mode I mean
to pursue, will be adopted by you, and prevent all
future enormities.
I remain, &c.
(signed) H. C.
His excellency general Washington.
The inhabitants of this city, are requested to meet at
Roubalet's tavern, at twelve o'clock this day, on busi
ness which will then be communicated, by
D. MATHEWS, Mayor.
TRE N T O N, May 15 .
On Friday last came to town from New-York, lieu
enant colonel Livingston, son to his excellency govern
May 18, 1782.
May 18
our last.
RICHMOND, (Virginia,) May 11.
On Monday last the honourable general assembly of
this commonwealth, met at this place agreeable to their
adjournment.
Extract of a letter from New-Jersey, dated May 16
" Sir H Clinton has failed ; other news we have none,
and refer you to the inclofed for the cause of their ftu
de joy, which it is said was performed by their refug e
out posts, and continued till near 11 o' clock on Sunday
nigit last
“ What is set forth in the paper they do hot believe
in New-York as truth."
To the Honourable the Chevalieur La LUZERNE
Minifler Plenipotentiary of His Mod Chriflia.%
or Livingston. This gentleman was taken the 25th of
April last, on his return from Spain, by the Quebec
frigate, and carried to New-York—lmmediately on his
landing there, he was committed by general Robert
son's orders, to the provofl, and continued in confi e
ment until the arrival of fir Guy Carleton, who has
liberated him on parole.
On Monday the 6th infant the house of Andrew
Larifon, in Amwell, caught fire by accident, and was
entirely consumed, with most of the houihold goods..
Extract of a letter from an officer of diflindion, dated
Williamsburg, May 8, 1782.
We are sorry to inform the public, that all our ac
counts from the frontiers of this fiate afford" a gloomy
profpeft ; scarcely one of the counties along the Alle
gany, that has not had some of its inhabitants massacred
by the Savages; and the inhabitants of the two outer
counties, Monongalia and Greenbrier, are all in forts.
Our accountsTrom the frontiers of South-Carolina and
Georgia are, however, more favourable, as the militia
of those flaies have penetrated thelndiaß country on the
sources of the Mobille, and bid fair to repress their in
solence.
" By a letter of marque from Cadiz, that was unfor
tunately chafed on shore by the Sybil, which she mistook
for a British frigate, we are informed of the surrender
of fort St. Philips, in Minorca,to the Spanish and French
forces."
By the HOUSE of DELEGATES, May 15, 1782.
Rivington's Royal Gazette of the Bth instant, an
nouncing the arrival of fir Guy Carleton at New-York,
as a commiffoner for making peace or war in North-
America : The dissolution of the late British Ministry,
and tie appointment of a new adminifi ration ; and the
draught of a bill brought into the British parliament to
enable the king of Great-Britain to conclude a peace or
truce with the United States, (by the appellation of
the revolted colonies) being laid before the house and
read :
Resolved unanimously, That it is the opinion of this
house, that peace with Great- Britain and all the world,
is an object truly definable ; but that war, with all its
calamities, is to be preferred to national difhonour,
and that it is the fentimentof this house, that any ne
gotiation for peace or truce, not agreeable to the alli
ance with France, is inadmissible ; that every danger
ought to be encountered, every event hazarded, rather
than fully our national character, or violate, in the
lead degree, our connexion with our great and good
ally; and that good faith, gratitude and fafety, for
bid any treaty for peace or truce with Great-Britain,
but in conjunction with France, or wita her consent
firft obtained.
Kefolved unanimously, That this house will exert
the power of the fiate to enable Congress to prosecute
the war, until Great-Britain renounce all claim of so
vereignty over the United States, or any part thereof,
and until their independence be formally, or tacit y
assured by the treaty with Great-Britain, France,
and the United States, which shall terminate the war.
By order, W. HARWOOD, clerk.
By the senate, May 16, 1782 : Read and unanimous
ly assented to.
By order, J. MACCUBBIN, clerk.
BALTIMOR E, May 14 .
Yeflerday afternoon, the schooner Three Brothers,
captain Travers,arrived here in 26 days from Grenada.
He was chafed off the capes, and in the bay, by feve
ra of the enemy's cruisers.
A number of small privateers, 5 of which are said
to be armed barges, manned principally by desperate
refugees now insert our bay, and' greatly annoy its
commerce. —Three of the latter lately captured an arm
ed boat from Annapolis under captain Grayson's com
mand, near the Tangier-islands, after a fhirp contest,
in which this brave captain, and several of his men loft
their lives, after performing signal aft of valour.
The New York paper of Saturday last is quite silent as
to the late news from the Wert-Indies, and the accounts
from Boston appear to be the fame as those published
in New-York. But we hope shortly to give the pub
lic a fatisfadory account of these important tranfaHi
ons.
SIR,
TH E Secretary of Foreign Affairs has communi
cated to us, that you, Sir, as “ Minifler Pie
" nipotentiary of His Most Christian Majesty, had
" announced to the United States in Congress affem
“ bled, at a Public Audience, the Birth of a Dau
" phin of France." An event of so much importance
tq the French nation, and so flattering to their hopes,
becomes highly interefling to us ; and when we confider
it as advancing the personal felicity of that illustrious
and magnanimous Prince, from whom the People of
America have received such powerful a ds, and so
many proofs of his royal regard and friendfllip, we
feel the most lively and animating joy.
And it is with the highest veneration, and the warm
est gratitude, that we present our warmest Congratula
Majesty:
The ADDRESS of the President and Council
Philadelphia, May 21.
ANNAPOLIS, May 16.
of the State of Pennsylvania.
To which the MINISTER of France was pleased
to give the following ANSWER.
Gentlemen,
TCANNNOT be charged with a duty more agree
able to fulfil, than that of transmitting to His Ma
jesty, testimonies of the part you take in the favour
which Heaven has done him in granting Dauphin to
his wishes and to those of the French nation. Since I
have the advantage ofliving among you, Gentlemen, I
have been frequently a witness of the sincere interest
which you have taken in every thing that may concern
your ally : The more the two nations are acquainted,
the more they love and esteem each other, and the
more they are sensible of the necessity of an unaltera
ble union : These circumstances will render fliU more
agreeable to His Majesty the sentiments of the Coun
cil of Pennsylvania, on tire fubje& of the Birth of an
Heir to his Crown. The young Prince will one day be
informed of the joy which the Pennsylvanians have
shewn on this occasion: He will learn that they were
his friends from his cradle, and it will please him to
be their's the whole time of his life.
Last Saturday the Reverend the SYNOD of New-
York and Philadelphia, appointed a Committe of
their Body, to wait upon His Excellency the M I
NISTER of France, with the following AD
DRES S—which was accordingly presented :—
To His Excellency the MI NISTER of France.
TH E Synod of New-York and Philadelphia beg
leave to congratulate your Excellency on the
auspicious Birtfi of a Dauphin of France; and, by your
means to communicate to your Sovereign, the interest
which they rake in every event with which his honour or
happiness is connected.
They have the rather chosen to embrace the oppor
tunity which their being together, at this time, afford
ed them, that they might co writeraff the insidious de
signs of the common enemy, and defeat the attempt
now making—to divide in order to dertroy us.
It is their wish therefore, that this Address may he
considered as a public teflimony of their approbation
of the Alliance with France, entered into by the
United Stares, and their sense of the advantages Ame
rica has already derived and fiill hopes to receive from
it.
They will not cease to pray to the God of all grace,
that the illuflrious Ally of these States, and his pofle
rity to the latest ages may be diflinguifhed, at home and
abroad, as the supporters of liberty and justice—as the
friends of mankind and deliverers of the oppressed.
Signed, in the name, presence, and by
appointment of Synod, by
JAMES LATA, Moderator.
tions to His Mort Chrirtian Majefly, and tohis F y^
Con fort; for whom we feel a refpef twhich we cannot
express, and felicitate them on this auspicious occi Em.
The attention which you, Sir, have always fhtwn
to the State of Pennsylvania, affords us full assurance,
that you will represent to your Auguf tSovereign the
sincerity with which ye rejoice at every event that ack's
to his glory or happiness, and more especially in the
present inflance.
May the Great Governor of the Universe, take info
his holy keeping the King, the Queen and the Dau
phin of France, and pour out his choicGl buffings
upon them.
*** The Sale of the Public lots, advertised to be
Sold on the 23d instant, is postponed till Thursday the
30th inflant.
,The advantage which I have enjoyed, of living a
mong you for several years, hath perf^aiy fati>fied
me of the Attachment of all orders of Citizens to their
Independence, and to the Alliance which is the support
of it:—No one could have the least doubt upon this
fubje&—without believing, that the People of the
United States were destitute of Virtue, of Patriotism,
and of the Knowledge of their true Interefls: But it is
necessary to undeceive even our enemies themselves ;
and the sentiments of that enlightened Body, in who e
name you present this Address, are, Gentlemen, ex
tremely proper to convince them of the impossibility of
spreading among you the Seeds of Difuniou.
The Divine Providence will bring to perfection this
Work, which it hath hitherto so happily protea<d ;
and as the Alliance is eflablifhed upon Juflice and the
Good of Mankind, it will be at permanent as the
foundations upon which it is built.
Philadelphia, May 18, 1782.
*J The ANNIVERSARY ORATI
ON of the Philosophical Society, will be
delivered this Evening, by Doctor Thomas
Bond, in the Assembly Room, in the State -
house. The Members of the lociety are
requested to meet there at seven o'clock.
3he Oration to begin precisely at half af
ter 1 even.
Gentlemen,
IT is with the greatest fitisfaftion, that I undertake
to transmit to the King, my mafler, the Congra
lulations of the Synod of New-York and Philadelphia
on the Birth of Monseigneur the Dauphin.
1 can give you the strongest assurance, that His
Majefly will receive, with the greatest pleasure, this
tedimony of the interest which that refpeflable Body
takes in his happiness.
His Excellency was pleased to return the following
ANSWER.
ASm.il BUNDLE of Fine and Co^fe LINEN, &c,
was, a few days age, est with the Printer. As
it is fappofed to have b+en LOST, the owner may have
it again by applying to the Printer, and making *
im.ll Comptnfaticn to the 80, who ft u^ it, M^y tor
Philadelphia, the 20th of May, 1782$
WILLIAM MOORE, PrefiJeut.
In Council, Philadelphia, May 18, 1782.