The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-08-30 00:00:00, page 2

TJ TRECII T, May 7, i„r.
ft Appears that, by fm ill degrees, the American?
will at las lobtain from this republic, what they
have thought incumbent on them to refufe hither
to, both for fear of giving displeasure to the court of
London, and also because the Bates general wished to
persevere in their refolutidn of not interfering either
directly or indirect!' , in the quarrel that had arisen be
tween Great- Britain and her colonies. An article from
the Hague mentions that Mr. Adams, who is furnifhed
with full powers for Supporting the charafkr of mini
fler to the United States of North America, whenever
the interft of his constituents fhdl make it necessary,
and who only made his appearance at the Hague incog
nito, has now taken up his residence there, and has
ben present d at the house of the president to the affem
by of the Bates- general. M. Le Baron de Lynden tot
Hemmen, filled the above place, on the part of the pro
vince of Guelderland ; and it is said, that Mr. Adams
being desirous of presenting his letters of credence to
him in quality of min her to the Congress, M. Le
Baron de Lynden informed him, " That as the repub
lic had not yt acknowledge! the independence of the
colonies of North-America, he could not accept his
credentials, but he would make r port of them to the
assembly "
They add, that upon this reply Mr. Adams retired,
that the province of Zealand would not deliberate up.
on the report made by the president, but that the
deputies of the fix other provinces had accepted of it,
with a design of transmitting it to thrir refpeAive Bates
for the purpose of receiving their opinion on this im
portant tubjed.
Madrid, April 27. The lift letters from the com
manders of the lockale of Gibraltar advise, that the
fire of that place wounded three of our soldiers the 16th;
and that our fire had made a frefh havock among the
enemy's batteries, and has again set fire to fevera) parts
of the town. A bomb fell on the powder magazine,
but had no effeA. The fire of our gun boats and
bomb ketches, annoy very much the enemy's fh^,
but we perceived that it did not prevent their unload
ing them with precipitation.
Tee 17th the fame fire was continued, and we per
ceived that t e flames had defiroyed the convent of la
M rci‘ which served for a magazine; and that fevera I
buildings were on fire. Not with flan bug that fllips of
every rate were cruizeing in the bay, one of our feluc
cas took an English tartan, with 11 men, laden with
povifions. The 18th and 19th we continued to mo
lest the enemy's ships, even in their anchorage, and
the fire from our line on the town burnt another ma
gazine
The 2^th, at ten in the morning, our gun-boats at
tacked again, and fought for upwards of an hour the
ships of war at anchor in the bay, and several others
that were under fail; and did not give over until the
wind became too strong for them. The fire from our
line again caused another conflagration in the town.
The wind beginning to blow from the east, the ene
my began to prepare to leave the Straits, and they
hurryed their manoeuvres in such a manner during the
night, that the whole squadron had got into the ocean
without waiting for the conv y from Mahon. Du
ring the flay in the port they had good weather, fa
vourable to the unloading of their fiores, and which
did not permit us to make use of our firefhips that
were in readmefs for the purpose.
L ONDO N.
H use of Commons, Wednesday, May go, i,Br.
TIA R. Sawbridg p , after a short preface, made his mo
tion for,bringing in a bill, for Shortening the du
ration of parliament, He was ft conded by Mr. Wilkes,
and fu pperted by Mr Turner, and fir Philip Jennings
Clerke. Not a word was said on the other fide of the
house, but there was a divifiu.
Ayes 29 Noes 59.
Mr. Hardey lamented the ill success that had on for
mer occasions attended the motions, similar to that he
was now about to make, relative to America. He
owned his own incapacity to represent the necessity of
the me^fure with the force he could wiffi, and which the
matter required ; but the great importance of the bu
fin.fs urged him to bring it once more forward, and
hoped for the affiftan e of gentlemen who were poffeff
ec of greater abilities Hefaid the American war had
been very deßruAive both to them and to this coun
try, and therefore moved, that it be taken into fericus
consideration, and a plan formed to come to an agree
ment.
Sir Philip J. C'erke said a few words in defence of the
motion, and seconded it.
Sir Gorge Saville rose and exprefled great indigna
tion at feeing ministers treat a question of such magni
tude with so great contempt; he thought that if they
were not inclined to accede to the propofirion, they
ought at leaf!, in common decency, to aflign some rea
fou for their con iuft, and not pass the matter over in
contemptuous flence.
Lord North assured the hon. baronet, that his fi'ence
did not proceed from any want of refpeft for the house ;
and that his only reason for not speaking to the question
was, that the fu' jest had been so often difeuffed before,
that he thought it needless to debate it any more. In
his opinion such a bill as the hon. member had moved
for, was totally unnecessary ; because, if the king was
inclined to make peace upon terms that would disho
nour him, he had already as ample powers as he could
with for : it was a part of his prerogative to make peace
and war ; and therefore he had no occasion to apply for
new powers, while he was already veiled with (efficient
constitutional powers, to make peace. It was true in
deed, that in making peace there might occur certain
points, on w ich it would be necessary to consult with
parliament; but when the c^fes Should offer then it
would be time enough to apply to parliament But it
was not necessary to make that application now, on
account of the aft for allowing to the commanders and
companies of men o' war, the American property that
they Should seize. The aft was certainly calculated
to opera e only as long as hofidities would last ; and
t erefore as soon as the king should put an end to the
hodilitLs, the op ration of that ^£ Iwould cease of
course.
Mr. Fox allowed that his majefiy hadthe power of
entering into a war, and m king peace, with foregn
powers; but this was not a war, it was only a rebel
lion or infurredion in the colonies, to do themselves
justice when they thought themselves oppressed, and
troops were sent to quell the said infurreaion. In this
case his majesty ought not to do any thing without
their concurrence; but what Signified power without
will ? and will there was none, nor did he suppose would
be, while the present miniflers were in power: it was
their interef lto continue in it, and therefore persuaded
their sovereign, that the war must be carried on for toe
dignity of his crown ; for the longer the war continu
ed the greater was his importance. This he did not al
together deny, but he was sure that every man would
to the utmost support the dignity of the crown
on every occasion; but when his servants infilled
into him falfe notions, it became all ranks of men
to reprobate their conduct. He forefaw there was
as little profpea now of this motion succeeding as
any former one; and that peace with America was
very far off; indeed it must continue as long as the
present ministry continued ; for whenever that defire
able event happened, they knew they must Tofe their
places. War produced loans, loans produced douceurs,
and douceurs produced parliament men, so that it would
be madness to imagine such a step would be taken by
them.
As a proof that the American war ought to be con
tinued, witnenes, refugees from the Congress, had been
some time since called to their bar, to prove that four
fifths of the inhabitants were friends to the mother
country, and wished for peace: curious witnesses they
were, tor one of them at leaf! (Mr. Galloway) pretend
ed to have a treacherous memory. Being aiKed what
opinion he gave in Congress ? his answer was he could
not tell. If he received a pension? He hesitated ; as
also 011 the quellion being put, how long the pen
fion was to lall ? He thought it extraordinary that the
American war should have such an effeß ; for tie believ
ed that not a man in that house had such treacherous
memories, as not to remember their receiving pennons
from government, and how long they would last; he
believed also that those who had been sent for from
committee above flairs, dragged from neighbouring
coffee-houfes, nay brought in flannels to that house on
certain divisions, had not such treacherous memories
as not to remember on which fide they voted, though
they might now be ashamed of having so done, let tr.e
time be ever so distant. - Mr. Fox laid, that private
characters were slandered, and in fianced the falfe and
wicked charges brought by them against his relation
(his brother colonel Fox) who, they said, had availed
himfelf of bis rank of colonel, to carry on a treafon
ble correspondence with the enemy. They knew them
selves that this charge was falle ; but they published
it and he feared, not for his brother's honour: and all
he lamented was, that he could not discover the base li
~ beller of his reputation.
Sir Harry Houghton defended the ministry; but said
if there were such wretches, such traitors to their coun
try as had been described, they ought to be brought to
public justice : it did not appear to him that they had
yet done any thing to deserve it, and if they had he
doubted not some ft^p would be taken to bring them
to condign punishment.
Lord G Germain rose next, and began with observ
ing, that though gentlemen were extremely forward to
recommend peace with America, they never attempted
to suggest the means by which so defreable an object
might be attained; they were ready to furnifli the
crown with ample powers to treat, but not to point
out in which way these powers ought to be exerciled:
yet the one would be ufeful, ani the other was entire
ly fuperfluous; for the present powers of the crown,
notwithstanding all the hon. gentleman had advanced,
were extensive enough for concluding peace, were there
a disposition in the colonies to open a negociation. He
always had been ot opinion, and still continued to be
so, that the conciliatory bills no longer continued in
force, nor could the propositions offered by our com
missioners be now obligatory on Great Britain; for the
other party not acceding to them, there could te no
mutual convention to make them a permanent basis
of treaty ; but in tl is, as well as in all other cases,
the one patty not being bound, so neither could the
other ite tonfidered, therefore, that aft of the le°if
lature totally void, and, and that its operation had
ceased with the return of the commissioners ; but by
the prohibitory aft itfelf, from which the gentleman
had argued that the legiflaturemuft be confuted in
making peace, a clause was contained, giving fuffici
ent powers to the crown for every furpole of pacifica
tion ; for it was enaded, “ That his majesty might,
by his royal authority, declare any province, town,'
or dillria, returning to its allegiance, to be within his
peace and protection; and that, from thenceforth, all
reftriaions, prohibitions, and penalties impeded there
on, should ceafe."-Under this ad of parliament, there
fore, a peace m ght be concluded by the king alone, on
any terms but those of indep. ndence ; now he prelum
ed it was not the meaning of the hon. g+utieman who
macle the motion, that tht crown should be empowered
to make America independent of the British g wernmem.
parliament could not yet be ipe tor a concession like
that, and if not, the bill moved for could give no pow
ers to the crown of which it was not already possessed.
The honourable gentleman had accrued miniflers of
a wi(h to protraft this war; an accus'd ion, to credit
which, it w s necessary to believe that they were difli
tute of feeing, honour, principle and common sense ;
for surely no man could have such a thing for power'
an ambition so very pr pofterous, as to be desirous o'
longer directing a war attended with so much trouble
and misfortune. The very calamities of the nation,
ft) often urged against ministers, might in this case
betheir ex ulpation; for, he w uld repeat again, that
they must be abandoned in the extreme, and left to
every fen'e of honour, if they could with to m/olve
their country in ruin, for the wretched advantage of
retaining their places, and that t 0 in this very trou
blesome conjundure. But instead of this he would
presume to fay, t/eir sense of honour and integrity
were as firong as those of any gentleman who eppofed
tiieir meafurts, nor were they dfltitute of an interefl
in their country's prosperity; on the contrary, tfe
had a considerable flake of their own depending- their
private fortunes were considerable, and in ruining
the public they ruined themselves. If n o % there
fore, deterred by a sense of honour or principle,'intereft
itfelf would reflrain them from facrificing the'wellfare
of their country; and as the unquestionably thought
that a peace with America was desirable, theopportu
nity of making it only, and not the will was wanting
The honourable gentleman had ridiculed the idea of
our having friends in America; but notwithstanding he
Bill believed, as he had always done, that a great pro
portion of the inhabitants were inclined to compro
mise with the mother country, on the ground of al
legiance. But it was asked, why, if that loyal party
are most numerous, do they not aft openly in favour
of this country? The answer was obvious; beciufe
the loyal inhabitants are unarmed, and the oppdite
party keeps them in fubjeflion; such was the darger
of a man's even evincing the slightest disposition o at
tachm-nt to the cause of allegiance, that numbers for
no greater fault, had been imprisoned, condemnedand
executed. Cou!d it then be expended that men fhctld
give any manifeftation of their loyalty at such immi
nent hazard of their lives; or could it be fairly iner
red that they were disloyally affefled, because in fob
circumflances they were not active in our favour It
was evident, that without towns or entrenchment 0
receive and protef lthem, it would be madhefs fortte
best affected fubjefts in America to declare in ourfa-
VQu r; and it should be observed, that the inhabitants
had not towns or forts in everr didrid, for they wire
so incumbered With woods, and iurrfe&ed with rives,
that they were scattered diffufely over the country,
often ?t great diflances from any place of ftrengti-
Meanwhile they were narrowly watched by commit
tees, which presided in every quarter, and narrowly
infpeßed the condud of those they deemed difaffeded
persons.
His !ordfhip next adverted so the honourable gentle
man's invectives on Mr. Galloway. He could assure
the house, that the gentleman alluded to was not the
character represented ; but had come over to our cause
because he disapproved the claim of independency ; he
had concurred in every measure of America not incon
sistent with her fubordmation to the crown of Great
Britain, yet, as soon as (he asserted her independence,
had openly expressed his renunciation of the cause, re
fufed a feat in congress, a^d put himfelf under the
protection of the commander in chief in New-York ;
as far, therefore, as a man afting upon these principles
could deserve the good opinion o. parliament, Mr,
Galloway was entitled to it.
His lord/hip now defended adminiflration from z
charge adduced by Mr. Fox, that of promoting the
American war for the purpose of making the king abso
lute In answer to this, ne observed, that America
firft denied her only her dependence on the legislature
ofthis country, not in the least renouncing her allegi
ance to the crown; die therefore wished to give his
majesty a power independent of parliament, and it was
that pretension which ministers refilled, in opposing her
innovations. Surely then this condud is incompatible
with the arbitrary designs imputed to them by the ho
nourable gentleman, for a troublesome contest might
have been avoided, and the influence of the crown ad
vanced, by a mere acquiefeence in the demands of the
colonies; in lieu of which, ministers dared toincur a!!
the dangers and all the animosity consequent from op
posing a powerful party, rather than abandon the rights
of legislature in favour of the prerogative.
Here his lordship concluded, after prefeffng in very
emphatic terms, that though lie was ardency defirou&
of peace with America, yet if it could not be obtained
without an admission of her independency, he, for one
would forego the buffings of peace, rather than give
his vote for so degrading a concession. The house di
vided, ayes 72, noes to 6.
SAL E M, August 14.
Mefs'rs Printers,
By publiiliing the following extract of a letter, written
by a captain of an American privateer, while 011
board afprifon-fhip in New-York, you will oblige
many of your readers, and particularly your hum
ble servant, " G. M.
Prison Blip, New York, July 23, 1781.
" Phis may serve to inform you, taat I was tab.-ri
thirty five hours out of Cafco-Bay, and brought to
New-York,where I can neither find friends nor money.
It is very fikiy here—one third of my crew is sick,
and all the rest are likely to be so There is not more
than one in five that recovers. I fee my brave coun
trymen dying daily like rotten sheep, only for want
of a little attention in our people in taking care of, and
fending the prisoners they take from time to time, in
order to be exchanged. Without some mode of relief
many a brave man is loft to his family, friends, and
country.
There is now 200 out of 6, Coffering the pains o' thia
sickness, and it's daily encruafing. 1 would request you
to acquaint my friends to forward an exchange with
all dispatch possible. All the New-London men are
exchanged by virtue of their townsmen and cornmiff —
ry; and without thz virtue thousands are loft. 1
would entreat of my townsmen to take particular care
of al prifon^rs taken, and fend them on as soon as
may be, before we are all dead and loft to the world.
My fituarion don't dmit me to express myfelf as I
should be glad to do ; and enlarging upon a e fubje^
don't avail any thing. I am now in the limboes, in
the midll of filth and vermin."
ig& a,&utek,,y%® ra§Q%& ri^Y^'"xgh "^>'%.^^;9
1 he Subscriber, lately appointed
aNOTARY and rABELLIG^ PUBLIC
for die flare ot Pennlylvania, has . removed
his Office to the south fide of Market-itrect,
the third door above l ^etitia-Court. The
denes ot this Office win not interfere with
his Practice of the Law.
W. BART O N.