The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-05-08 00:00:00, page 3

f n of his acknowledging his debts being paid by 1
French gentleman at Paris) where the said Admiral was
in a deplorable situation, just b fore the commence
ments of the prefect war. The Dutch and Americans,
to whom he was not so much indebted have experi
enced. by ids orders, the werft of treatment, end great
est cruelties.
After Rodney took poffeTon of all the ciflerns, it
was in vain for the women and children to cry for wa
ter, as it was domed teem, ^c."
Kyanother letter from Fort Dauphin, we have the
fo'lowing extract, viz. We have not a single priva
teer on our coasts. M. de la Touche Treville, is ex
pected at Martinico, with 23 ships of the line, and
18,000 troops."
Last 1 hurfday arrived at a Efe port, Caps. Atkins, in
32 days from Cadiz.
" Cadiz, 18th of March, 1731.
c< The blockade of Gibraltar is continued with un
remitting vigour by the Spaniards Lnd forces em
ployed in the siege are commanded by M. Alvarez, and
those of the navy by M. Barcelo. It is r ported that
Admiral Darby, commander in chief of the British
fleet, and who has under his immediate orders 22
ships of the line, besides fifties and frigates, is fhort
]y to attempt fuccouring the garfifon To prevent
this, i possible, Admiral Cordova has been for feme
weeks past, and is ftil rationed between the Streights
and Cape St. Vincents, with '3O fail of the line, frigates,
&c. The Emperor of Morocco is Txed a declared
partizan of Spain, and will not permit the extraction
of provisions from any of Iris ports by the English.
“ M. de Graffe is appointed to the command of a
squadron to consist of 25 ships @f the Ime, which it is
said will fail this spring for America and the Weft
Indies and Count D'Eftaing will remain with the com
mand of the grand European fleet. The English have
taken several hundred English yeffels ; but have hi
therto condemned none, in hopes, no doubt, of being
able to effeO a compromise. The Dutch, for this, how
ever, do not telax in their preparat ons for war, and
seem resolved to chastise the turner ty and injufrice of
their enemies. By different edicts they have prohi
bited the sale of any of t: etr vessels to foreigners,
have laid a general embargo, for a limited time, aug
mented their forces by sea and land, granted letters
of reprif 1, and made liberal provision for those who
may be maimed or disabled in the service of the Re
pu lic. The spirit of privateering is so prevalent among
them, particularly in Freezland, that even the women
throw in their jewelsand trinkets to be applied in the
equipment ofcruizers. As member of the armed neu
trality the States General h ve claimed the affftance
of t e Empress of RuAi, in rebelling the cu rages of
the common aggreßor: no answer is yet received ; but
private letters from Petersburg encourage a belief that
her Imperial Majesty will g ve a favourable cme ; if 0,
Sweeden and Denmark mutt aifo, by treaty take a
part, and then, it is hoped, England will at length be
awakened to a sense of her foby and infatuation, re
cognize, the independency of America, and restore
peace to Europe. Toaccelerate this happy termina
ti°n i to the war, however, nothing will contribute
more eff Pu^l'y than unanimity and vigour in the count
fels and operations of Amen a. Every, the Jeaft ap
pearance of disunion, inability or relaxation there, re
vives the vain hope cf conquest, and to one exertion
more.
NOR WI CH, April 26/
The following tragic I affair happened this week at
Preston, the particulars are nearly as follows: Mr
Plifha Witter, fen of William Witter, EQ/of that
place, had been for famed-ys discovered to be nt so
regular as utual but it was judged to proceed from
the natural distress of mind, occafr ned by the sudden
illness and death of his brother, till on Toefday night,
getting from his bed, he went into the room where
one Mr Spalding, Iris brother in law, lay, and was de.
firous of feeing him (he previously having notice of his
brother's intentions, had',gone to procure afuftance to
secure h;m) Winter finding h r -was not there, killed
Spalding's wife (his own fiber) arc her child ; he then
returned to the room where his wife and child flepf,
ki'led the chi'd, and attempted to do likewise to his
wife, and would not have left her without wheeling it,
did he not suppose he had ; by this time a brother of
his, who lodged in the house, hearing the noise, had
got u?, on which the murderer not having glutted his
malice, attempted to put an end to his life also ; but he
being too strong for him, got him down ; soon after
which Spalding corrie in, and thy had him secured.
For force hours after he wesbound, his actions de
monftrat-d the greatest possible anger ; it seemed that,
had he his lib rty, lie wou'd have exterminated all
the human race • towards morning he got much more
tegular, and now is in the greatefl distress of mind
conceivable, remonftrafing himfelf as being the perpe
trator of deeds truly hideous and lamentable ; killed
his fiflet, her child, his own child, wounded the part
ner of his joys in such a manner as leaves her life des
paired of, and attempted the deatl of a dear brother !
Human nature calls for Sympathy from all, to be ad
miniftred to the affiiefed parents, who in the Space of
thirty-fix hours fuffered a charge, under the load of
which frail nature is forced to give way.
CHAT HA M, May 2.
On Sunday night the 15th ult. captain Hylar, of
Brunswick, went over to Long Bland .nd brought off a
Hessian major and an ensign with their waiters, who are
now at this place on parole. They were hi the centre of
two picket guards, yet tre address of captain Hylar was
such, that the guards were not alarmed untilhe was out
of their power.
—apt ^——•CTmtm—B
RICHMON D, April 21.
Extras of a letter from Port-Royal, dated April 7,
1781.
" Five of the enemy's ships have ran up Potowmack,
and anchored opposite Hcoe's Ferry. They landed
some men in Maryland, who did considerable damage to
the inhabitants. Last evening they landed a party at
Hooe's houses and burnt them down. The militia of the
neighbouring counties, and a number of gentlemen
volunteers, are collecting, in order to oppole the pro
gress of the enemy."
A gentleman from the back country informs us, that
colonel Clarke of Georgia, has lately had a skirmish
with a party of sixty British troops, commanded by
captain Dunlap, near Ninety-fix, in South-Carolina,
in which he killed their commander and thirty men,
the rest he took prisoners, and carried them to Wa
tauga, in Washington County, North-Carolina.
Toe .enemy's poftat Ninety nx, last week Surrender
ed to general Sumpter and colonel Folk, who took
about 80 regulars and 300 tories prisoners. The per
son who brings this account, fays, general Greene was
on Iris march to Camden, where lord Rawdon was pos
ted with about 400 men ; and that earl Cornwallis was
gone towards Wilmington, to give his crippled troops
some rest.
By letters from Williamsburg and the neighbourhood
thereof, we are informed, that the enemy from Ports
mouth were advancing up James river ; on Thursday
afternoon at fix o'clock, two armed ships, a brig, a
schooner, and nine flat bottom boats, were near Bur
well's Ferry, full of men, and several other veffe'e in
fight. What tieir intentions are we know not.
BALTIMORE, May 1.
A letter from Frederickfburg, dated on Tuesday last,
mentions, that a report then prevailed there, that the
enemy took possession of Williamsburg the proceeding
Saturday.
A Gentlemart just arrived in town froffi Newbern,
North Carolina, advises, that, by the latest accounts,
Earl Cornwallis, withabout 1,00 effective Britdh troops
was at Wilmington, on Capefear River, where his
Lofdfhip was waiting for reinforcements, from Charlef
town, South Carolina, and Portsmouth, in Virginia.
Since onr last the British armed vefftls, which lately
appeared off the mouth of our river, went down Che
lapeake, and, it is laid, have again gone up Fatow
mack.
Philadelphia, May 8.
Friday lafl the chevalier DE L{ 1 TOUCHE, captain
of the Hermione frigate, gave, on board his ve"el,
an elegant entertainment to his excellency the presi
dent, and the honourable members of congress to his
ercurtney the president and the honourable vice pr<fi
dent and council of the state : in presence of hi excel
lency the chevalier Be I,- Luzerne, Monfror De Mar
bois, Monsieur Holker, and a great number of military
and civil offi ers and gentlemen of both nations. On
his arrival and departure, the president of congress was
saluted by thirteen guns. The frigate was elegantly
decorated ; and all her colours flying afforded a pieaf
inz fight to several thousand of people landing on the
shore. After dinner the following toasts were drank.
I The United States of America, 21 guns fired.
2 The King of France, 21
3 The King of Spain, 2 I
4 The Queen of France, 2 r
5 The United Provinces of Holland, 13
6 The State of Pennfylvanja, 13
7 General Washington and the Army, 13
8 General Rochambeau and the French.
Army, 9
9 Generals Greene, La Fayette, Steuben
and their Troops, 9
10 Admiral Deftouches and the French
fleet, 9
11 The American Minifiers in Europe, 9
12 The Success of the Campaign, 9
13 The Eternity of the Alliance, 9
The emperor of Morocco has opened his ports to the
French and Spaniards ; and has ordered the British con
sul and merchants to fettle their affairs, and depart his
dominion in three days.
A large ship is now in our river, with a cargo of
about 400 hogsheads of sugar, &c. prize to the Ariel
privateer of this port. She was from one of the British
Welt India inlands bound to Europe.
The governor and council of the state of New- Jersey,
have, by proclamation, (dated at Trenton, the 28th
ult) declared the exchange, between continental cur
rency and specie, to be at one hundred and fifty for
one.
Extraft of alettef from an officer of rank, dated Chef
terfield Court house (Vigiuia) Ap il 26, 1781
“ On the evening of the 24th instant, general Phil
lips and Arnold landed their whole force, said to consist
of 3000 chosen men, at City.point; about 12 miles
from Petersburg: as we had only about 1000 militia
affembltd, and the ships of war were ranged close along
shore, it was thought unadvifeable to attempt to annoy
them while they were landing, we therefore returned
to Pe^rfterg, where we determined to make a Hand.
Yesterday, about one o'clock, P. M. the enemy ap
proached the town in two columns, and were met by
our light infantry abouta mie from the town, when
the skirmish commenced, and every inch of ground to
the bridge, about a mile in the rear, was disputed The
dispute was very hot at the bridge for some time, but
at length they cannonaded us so severely that we broke
up the bridge, and retreated in the greatest regularity,
after maintaining the fight for near two hours.
“ I have the pleasure to assure you, that the militia
behaved with a spirit and resolution, which would have
done honour to veterans lam convinced the enemy
have fuffered severely ; our loss is not yet afeertained,
but I fancy it will not exceed sixty. To morrow we
shall be joined by the Marquis, when, I think, we
shall make Peterfburgh too hot for them.
“ Major general baron Steuben's OR DE RS.
" Chefterfield Court-house, April 26, 1781.
"IT is with very peculiar pleasure and fapsfatlion
that the general takes this early opportunity to thank,
in the mob cordial' manner, the officers and soldiers
who so very much distinguished themselves in defending
the post of Petersburg for near two hours, against an
enemy far superior in numbers.
" He begs general Muhlenburg will accept his very
particular thanks for his gallantry and good difpofr
tion. The officers id general behaved with that spirit
and firmnefs which will always entitle them to his
highest approbation; he has it notin his power to par
ticularife without inserting the names of all ; he there
fore begs them to continue their glorious exertions, and
assures the militia, that from this day he shall always
think himfelf honoured to have such deferring men to'
command."
The eastern papers received yesterday, mention the
arrivals of the following prizes.—At Salem, a sloop of
10 fwivelA, laden with tobacco, prize to the ship
Rhodes: At Newport, a brig with 250 pipes of wine
prize to the Young Cromwell: At New London, z
vessel with salt and dry goods, from New York bound
to Newfoundland, prize to the Lively ; two brigs with
500 hogsheads of rum and sugar, and another vessel
with 200 hogsheads of the fame articles, prizes to the
Dean ; and two brigs from Jamaica, with 360 hogsheads
of rum, 213 hogsheads of sugar, and some coffee, pie
mento, cotton, &c.
The Antelope and Felicity schooners are arrived at
Baltimore from Gaudaloupe : on their passage they re
took, and ordered for the Delaware, the ship Refoluti.
on, laden with sugar and cotton, bound for Amster
dam, but had been captured by the enemy. In com
ing up Chesapeake they took, and brought with them
to Baltimore, the privateer schooner Jack-o-Lanthorn,
of 6 guns and 36 men, belonging to New-York: this
prize had some of th 6 baggage of the marquis de la
Fayette on board, which they had taken in a small ves
sel from the Head of Elk.
**^ The public are assured, that early on Wednes
day morning, a sum of small bills of the state money,
suitable for change, will be in M& Rittenhoufe's
hands, to be exchanged orftate or old continental, as
may best suit the applicants.
fe®sw@^o^o^^@®@^@o
By virtue of a Writ to me dir &rd,
Will be Sold by Public Vendue,
0^ IKED NESD^r,
The Sixteenth Inft,nt at the Stores late the property
cf fohn P ro k, on Ra ^e-ftreet wharf,
A large Quantity of
Fine Salt, English Cheese, Claret,
&,. &c. &c.
The Vendue to b^g-n at TEN o'clock in the Fore-
M^,g,J noon. WILLIAM WILL, Sheriff.
Just Published, and To he Sold, by JOHN DUNLAP,
in Markei-ftreet,
^7 the L .4 W S
Ena&ed in the Second Sitting of the Fifth General
A ffembly, cf the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;
Which commenced at Philadelphia, on Tuesday the
sixth day cf February, in the year of our Lord Oae
thousand seven hundred eighty and ones
To be hired, by the day or job,
A compleat Light -Waggon,
With good horses and a careful driver.
Horses taken to Hand at Livery. By SAMUEL
HODGSON, at the back of the city Tavern.
TO BE L E T''
For the Summer season, or longer, and may be entered
on immediate!,, A very
Pleasant, healthy Country House,
Situate near tfit four mile rtone, on the Falls road, op
posite to David Franks country feat ; it has two rooms
on a floor, with a piazz round it, well finifned: alio,
a Kitchen, a milk howe, and a Stable adjoining, and
a pump of good water at the door. Enquire of Thrma*
Arntet, Grocer, in Second street, belew the corner of
Market 1b eet.
N B. It is in a very good neighbourhood, and near
many principal country feats.
Three Hundred Dollars Reward.
WAS dropped, some time ago, a CERTIFICATE
for 1944 Ddlaih and 60 90 hs, beirg for frage
floret, obtained irotp Major Howell, a deputy quarter
mailer, for Downingtown, Chester county, became due,
by contrast, March 24, 1780, dated the 24th, 1780.
Ady person finding the above Certificate, and bring
ing it to the fubferiber, living opposite the Ship Ta
vern, on the Coneftega rod, shall be intitled to the
above Reward, by BENJAMIN TAYLOR.
N. B. It cannot be of use to any cue but the owners
Two Silver Dollars Reward.
P AN AWAY from the fubferiber, a NEGRO LADj
1 named JACK,'about 18 years old, has an auk
ward, hobbling walk, about 5 feet 6 inches high; had
on a brown short jick t, green cloth trowfers, bad
shoes with holes cut through the upper leather, ft is
fuepofid he is lurking about in the city. Whoever
will leave him in the W< rk house shall receive the
above Reward and reasonable charges osid.
JACOB WERT.
N. B. Makers of vessels and otheii, are hereby
warned not to harbour said Negro, or they shall an
swer for the fame as the law dire&s. Miy 7.
TO BE LE T,
That large and well accuflomed
INN, in Chefle^, lately ocromed by VALENTINE
WEAVER. Immediate p, ff ffion will he given. For
terms apply te CHARLES THOMSON.