The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-01-22 00:00:00, page 3

January 16, 1780.
Extract of a letter from a merchant of character, dated
L'One!t, Odober 20th, 1779.
<< Theowners of the privateer General Mifflin, Capt.
M'Neil, may congratulate themselves on having gained
tfeir cause against the owners of the French ship the Isa
bella. T : is disputed recapture is worth to them near
200,000 livres, being loaded with sugars which we have
just fold. The tribunals on this occasion, considered the
American privateer as intitled to the privileges ®f na.
tionsthe most favored, and this indeed is the principle on
which our tribunals aft, in all cases in which the Ame
ricans are concerned.
'' The brave Capt. Paul Jones, on the zgd laftmonth,
attacked the Baltic fleet of 60 fail, under convoy of th,
Seraohis of 44 guns, and the Scarborough of 20 ; Thele
two mqa of war and 42 of the convoy were taken, all
loaded with naval stores for government, 6 others were
totally ^on the coast with their cargoes and crews. The
General Mifflin was one of Jones's squadron I believe,
and it is tuoucht they have proceeded to Norway.
“ About 8 leagues from Gfhant, there was a bloody en
gagement between the frigates La Surveibante and the
Quebec, both of equal force. Tney both loft all their
jnifts. The French frigate only laved her bowsprit, the
availed herfe f of her oars, to board the Quebec, and ha
ving thrown in a flower of hand grenades, the remains
ing part of hie exhaofted crew were on the point of jump
ingon board, when they cbferved a frame fore aft.
They immed ately difingaged by cutting away the remains
of rhe bowsprit, and saved 43 of the British and and two
officers. Hiving got to some little distance by the means
of their oars, toe English frigate blew up. The Surveil
lant was ar:ied into Brest, having had 33 men killed,
and 85 woun led. The Captain, M de Coedic, received 3
shot, 2 in his head not dangerous, and one in the body
whi hwe fear is. The second in cammed was killed, and
the 6 h officer on board only was capable of carrying her
into port, the others having been either killed or wound
ed. To him the brave Capt. Coedic gave up the com
mand of the fr'gateafter the engagement, for during the
ahion he would not be taken froth the quarter deck nor
fuff r their attention to be taken up with him."
Toe want of paper obliged us to print fewer of our last
number thm usual, so that several of our Custom
ers had not the opportunity of feeing the following let
ters, for which teafon they are te-publifhed.
Ektrad ol a letter from L'Orient, dated October 22, 1779,
to a gentleman in this city.-
" The gallant behaviour of Capt. Paul Jonfe at present
engages the whole attention here. In my last I informed
you that he had the command of a small squadron then 'on
acriize, He failed round Ireland and Scotland, spread
ing terror and devastation in every part. He took, burnt
an I funk a great number of vessels, among them a ship
bound to Quebec, extremely rich.
“ On the 23 of September in the evening, having under
'h)command, the Poor Richard of 40 guns, the Alliance
of 36, and the Pallas of 28 guns; he fell in with the Bal
tick flee: refilling of about 40 fail, under convoy of the
Seraphis of 44 gunsand the Countess of Scarborough of 20
guns ; the Pallas after an engagement of about an hour
took the latter, and J nes in the Poor Richard attacked
the former, they fought for ?..r?e hours and a half with in
conceiveable rage; two hours of which time they were
faft to each other, and almost all the time one or the other
was on fire.
cower to have all those unable to march transported
:fleighs, yet I imagine a very few may have been left
"immediately after crossing, a party was detached under
Lieut Col. Willet, to Decker's house. The corps there
had been alarmed and barely made its escape. rhe house,
a Trifon place,and eight or mine small vessels were bur
ned. A considerable quantity of blankets and other stores
were found. ,
While the troops were upon the island, a numoetoi
scrfons from this fide took advantage of the occasion to
upon the island, and plundered the people there in
the moil fhameful and merciless manner. Many of them
were flapped on their return, and their booty taken from
them." In addition to which, I have sent an order for
publication, requiring thole who had eluded the search to
restore the articles in their possession, and exhorting
the good people at large, to assist in detecting them. All
the soldiery on re-crossing the ice, were searched, and
thelittle plunder they had,taken from them and their names
noted, (nat they may be brought to punishment. The ar
ticles recovered are, and will be deposited with the Reve
rend Mr. Caldwell, who is exerting himfelf in the affair,
to be returned to the owners. I am happy to inform
your Excellency, that a very inconsiderable part indeed, of
the troops difhonoured themselves, by participating in
these enormities.
The officers and men, in general, Clewed a good dispo
sition, and I only regret there was no opportunity of turn
ing it to advantage. I have the honor to be, &c.
* (Signed) STIRLING.
Publiffied by Order ofCongrefs,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
Elizabeth-town,
“ The Poor Richard was obliged to keep all her pumps
going, during the greater part of the engagement; it be
ing night and the two vessels inveloped in fraoak, the Capt.
of the Pallas could not diflinguifti which was friend or e
nemy, focould give Jones no affiflance. The Alliance lay
out of gun shot for the greatest part of the engagement,
and when (he camdup to his assistance, through mistake
instead of firing on the eneray, gave the Poor Richard two
broad files, which killed 11 men, besides doing other con
fiderabledamage. Notwithstanding all this, Jones conti
nued the engagement until he obliged her to strike.
" The Seraphis is a fine new ship, sheathed with cop
j>er,on an entire new conftrudion, and thought to be the
afteft failing vessel in Europe; she has two entire bat
teries, the lower of which, is 18 pounders; so that she may
be said to be almo'ft double the force of the Poor Richard.
This last ship notwithfianding every assistance from the
others, funk the second morning after the engagement.
“ There has been another engagement lately, almost as
severe as this, between the Suyveillante and the Quebec,
each of thirty-two guns; they fought yard-arm and yard
arm for about three hours, when the latter blew up.
Without this accident it was not possible to tell which
would have funk irft, for they were both determined not
to strike."
4*o<*> D $ ### $ +*'+* * P*D fy.^ g
To be L ET, and entered on immediately,
A LARGE commodious POTHOUSE in th?
city of Philadelphia. For terms enquire of the
Printer.
rOBEs 0 L D,
'7 HE TIME of a servant Girl, who has above
' two years to serve; a smart girl, fit for country
work. For' further particulars enquire of Mr. Thomas
Apty, keeper of the Work-house in Philadelphia.
A few GALLONS of excellent
Fresh LIME JUICE;
Also, Fresh R AISI N S,
TO BE SOLD BY
JACOB KEEHM LE,
In Second.ftreet, near Race street, Philadelphia.
Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars Reward.
STOLEN or STRAYE D, on the night of the
20th inffant (January) from the door of Christian
Stear, in Whitemarfh townthip, a dark brown HORSE,
coming four years old, neither brand nor ear mark,
some white on one of his hind feet, a well made crea
ture, about thirteen hands high, paces and trots, car
ries low in his gate, aud never was (hod ; the mane di
vides on each fide from the head half way on his neck,
and the short hairs at th* root of his tail are white. A
red and white dog with peaked ears followed the horse.
Whoever gives information of, or brings the horse,
end thief if stolen, shall have the above reward, and for
the horse alone One Hundred and Fifty Dollars, paid by
RHUDOLPH BARTLE,
Extr^a of another letter from the fame place.
" Capt. Jones came to town from the Texel, and
he is gone to the Hague, his presence will I am persua
ded, embarrass this Republic, and may probably pro
duce warm altercations in the Senate.
'' I cannot give you a very particular account of the
engagement; only that the conflid between the two ships
exceed description ; upwards of 230 men killed and wound
ed in both, and so shattered that it was a matter of doubt
which of the vessels would fink firfl. The Captain of the
Seraphis, behaved with great bravery, but the determin
ed resolution of Captain Jones overcame him.
“ The Poor Richard, with all the assistance afforded
from the other ships after the action, could not be kept
above water, and Jones hadthe mortification to fee her go
down, not being able to save any material part of her
stores. He (it may be said) has made a good exchange,
but he wished to have got the Poor Richard into port,
Shattered as she was, as a pidure of curiosity and distress."
Uncle TOBY to SHANDY.
T. H AT ' smy dear little rogue—my own dear Trif
tram —thy uncle Toby could take the? in his arms,
and squeeze thy barrel till it would scarce ever again con
tain any powder ; —were he not afraid that thy caperfome
frolickfome humour, might prompt thee to tread on his
poor old toes and put him to torture—my dear little fel
low, a good story can never be too often told—and fomy
old Cousin Hawser Trunnion thought formerly—the good
foul never begrudged his oracular labour—it was enough
for him to know, as he fat by the fire fide in the ale-house,
" that the gentlemen had not heard it"—my dear boy,
tell it again! it does my very heart good--why Triflram,
thou haft renewed youth to my old bones, and filled them
with frefh marrow—l have agai -mounted old flag and
joined in the joys of the chafe—heigh Pompey, Ring
wood, jowler, Leonidas—and away we go—l thought
fureiy to be in at the death ; and affixed in idea, the
brush to my cap—but alas I was flung out—nobody could
fee the fox—fome said it was no fox—fome—it was a dog
with a block to his tail— some a wolf—and some the ve
ry beast on which Triflram rode, which had carried him
through rriany a found'rous road—what !—hunt my own
sweet Triftram I —no said I—l will quit the chafe—l will
never Air out of my chamber again —old flag shall peace
fully end hisdays at gfafs, and my dear Triflram shall steal
off unhurt—here Trim—take hold of old flag and let me
alight. UNCLE TOBY.
to The Members of the Society for the Relief of poor
and diftraffed Masters of Ships, their Widows and Chil
dren, are desired to attend a special meeting, at the
Coffee-houfe, this evening, at fix o'clock precisely, on bu
siness of importance.
Saturday, January 22, 1780.
§q§ The CONSTITUTIONAL SOCT E -
T Y will meet this evening at 6 o'clock.
January 2?, 1780.
Thursday last the Honorable the General Assembly of
this Commonwealth, met here pursuant to adjournment.
From the Parliamentary Debates, N. 67. 1779.
Extract of a letter from Lord George Germaine, to Ma
jor General Howe, dated Whitehall, February 1, 1776.
" T HIS letter will be entrusted to the care ofthe com
' mander of bis Majesty's ffiip Greyhound, who
will also deliver up to you the officers of the privateer
fitted out by the rebels, under a comroiffion from the
Con^refs, and taken oy one of Admiral Graves's squad
ron. It has been judged fit tofend them back to Ameri
ca, for the fame obvious reasons that induced the fending
back the rebel prisoners taken in arms upon the attack of
Montreal in Sept. last. It is hoped that the possession
of these prisoners, will enable you to procure the release
of such of his Majesty's officers and loyal fubjeds as are
in the difgraceful Equation of being prisoners to the re
bell : For although it cannot be that you ftlould enter in
to any treaty or agreement with rebels, for a regular car
te. l for exchangeof pfifoners ; yet I doubt not but your
own discretion will feggeft to you, the means of effecting
such exchange without the King's dignity and honor being
committed, or his Majesty's name tiled in any negocia
tion for that purpose : And I am the more ftrohgly ur
ged to point out to you the expediency of such a ireJure,
on account of the possible difficulties, which may other
wise occur in the case of foreign troops serving in North
America.
N. B. They continue to fell GROCERIES as
Ufual;l
——Q —E s' o'L "d7~
A YOUNG NEGRO WENCH with two chil
dren: She is good tempered, and capable of any
kind of houle-work. For termsof sale apply to Joseph:
Heister, living in Reading.
WAS taken upby she fubferiberat Cuckold's
town, Mill Creek Hundred, and county of
New Caftig, on the 10th of November last, a black
MARE, supposed to be about fix years old, thirteen
or fourteen hand# high, branded H L. The owner is
desired to come, prove property, pay charges and take
her away, FREDERICK FORD.
pLATES,
1 Dishes,
Mugs,
Tea Pots,
Coffee Pots,
Tureens,
Sugar Billies,
DESERTE D,
From the North-Carolina brigade, on their march t 6
, the Southward, the following men, viz.
ARTHUR BOYC E, of Col, Patten's company,
2d battalion, born in the town cf Edinburgh, in
North-Britain, resided in King's-Town, Dobls ccunty.
North- Carolina ; five feet eleven and and a half inches
high, light brown hair, fair complexion, forty-five
years of age, a ietjaht, defeated the 2d of December
last at Trenton in the Jerseys. James Ives, born in Nor
fo k county, Virginia, and liv±d in Pitt county, North-
Carolina, by trade a turner, ag6d twenty-fix yeais, five
feet eight inches high, red hair, fair complexion, defect
ed at the Head of Elk the 12'h of December l^ft.
From Col. Thomas Clark's company, ift regiment,
three soldiers, v z. John Burns, Marlin Richards Crofts
and Neil Blew. Burns deserted at Susquehanna Lower
Ferry, is about live feet eight inches high, fair complex
ion, brown hair, supposed to have gone to Strawberry
Ferry, or near Lancaster, where he was born ; is muc 1
addicted to liquor, speaks much in the Irish dialed, and
makes use of the word anan when alked any qurftion ; he
is considerably pimpled in the face, which appears red
by drinking, is about forty yea sos age, and supposed
to have a forged difebarge, as he formerly kept school,
and was known to borrow pacer the night he deferred.
Croft deserted at Newport in Delaware, is p lad of about
eighteen years of age, born in England, plays well on
the fife, walks with his toes much out, a great repro
bate in (wearing, and is supposed tohave gone to Phila
delphia. Blew delerted in Philadelphia, was born ii
Holland, formerly brought up to the sea, is about five
feet five inches high, light hair and complexion, a great
braggadocio, and fund of foewing hin)felf the man of
importance.
From Captain James Read's company, ift battalion,
Henry Z.lhr#, about five feet fix inches high, born near
Lancaster in Pennsylvania, dark hair curled in the neck,
speaks good English though of Dutch parents, a well set
fellow, pitied with the fmal!-pox, is supposed to have a
forged difeharge, as he defected from Suiquehanna Lower
Ferry in comp ny with one Birnr, and it is probable they
may continue together or neatly in the fame neighbour
hoods
From Capt. John Summers's company, ift regiments
Hugh Davis, defeated the 7th of December raft, by tiade
a taylor, born in Wales, about five feet high, black hair
cut short, black eyes, dark complexion, aged thirty-two
years, nifyeaed to be ^dne 40 mbej beyend Albany.
From Lieut^ Col. Harney's company, Thomas Gar
rot, deserted the lith of December last from the H*ad
of Elk, seventeen years of age, five feet eight inches
high, both in Pafquctank county, North-Carolina, has
black hair and fair complexon, supposed to be gone to
the Nine Partners on the North River, in the State of
New York.
From Major Murfrie's company, John Harvey, de
serted the 29th cf December last, twenty-five years cf
^g e > about five feet nine inches high, brown hair, fa r
complexion, born in Virginia, by trade a taylor, plays
well on the violin, which instrument he is fond of; sup
posed to be gone towards the Head of Elk.
From Captain John Ingles's company; 2d battalion,
Philip Penkum, deserted the 29th of December last, aged
about twenty-seven years, about five feet eight inches
high, fair complexion, round shouldered, born in Cra
ven county, North-C^iolina, and supposed to be gore
to the Head of Elk. Also William Griffin, aged twen
ty-two years, five feet seven inches high, fair complex
ion, born in Pafquetank, North-Carolina, supposed to
be gone to the above place; Theabove two men desert
ed in regimentals.
From Lieut. Col. Davidson's company, John Conns
way, twenty four years of age, five feet eight inches
high, black hair, black eyes, born in Ireland, and sup
posed to be gone to Tapan.
From Capt. G. John M'Rees's company, Thomas
Baker, thirty-fix years cf age, five feet five inches high,
American born, of a swarthy complexion, brown hair,
grey eyes, and supposed to be gone to Philadelphia, in
which place he has a brother.
Every perfu.napprehending any of the above deserters
and delivering him into any goal, or to ary Continental
officer, so that he may be lecured, shall receive ONE
HUNDRED DOLLARS reward, and ONE
DOLLAR for each mile such deserter shall be ccn
duded from the place where taken to the place where
delivered, on producing a receipt from the Gaoler cr
Officer to the fubferiber, or nearest D Q Matter General,
who is requested to pay the fame.
By order of the Hen. Board of War,
LEWIS NICOLA, Col. Inv.
Com. in Philadelphia.
TO BE S O~L~ D B'Y
SHINKLE and GRAFF,
At the corner of Market and Secocd-fbeets,
A la rge QUANTITY of
QUEEN'S WAR E and GLASS,
Among which are---
Saliad Dishes,
Wine Glasses,
Decanters,
Castor Stands,
And sundry other articles
too tedious to mention.