The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-08-23 00:00:00, page 2

LONDO N, May 15.
HOUSE of COMMONS, Monday, May 14.
St. EUSTATIUS BUSINESS.
MR. BURKE opened the debate, agreeable to
his notice, by Rating that this was a quefiion of
the most peculiar importance ; for this country was,
in every degree, so singularly circumflanced, he would
venture to affect, that no history could point but a pe
'riod when this nation was at war with all the world, with
out any one ally or friend. At such a timeit would be
just, it would be prudent, to endeavour by every con
ciliatory, every humane means to fatisfy the world,
that the conduct of this country was liberal, was open.
He said, that the firft manifefto of December 21,
whereby the feelingly mild mode of reprisals was
adopted, and he thought the most proper mode of the
wir was just. He then proceeded to Rate the federal
papers which had been published relative to the Dutch
war. He said, that, with regard to the ships belong
ing to Holland here, there had been a refpeA paid by
proclamation, which said, that all vessels having car
goes should have a reasonable time to depart; but a
provision was made, that we should wait until we knew
that the slates would ad with equal generosity with re
gard to us. But what was our conduct with regard to
the island of St. Euftatius? An island which might
be looked as a lulus naturae, fomethiog accidentally
formed after the rest of the creation, baren, and with
out any resource from nature, and which depended cn
extrinsic assistance. It had been wifely, by that poli
tic nation, the Dutch, made an emporium of trade, a
free port, an open mart for sale and purchase to all na
tions ; nay, even legally recognized by the legislature
of this country, in the a&s which gave us the power
of trading there.—What did we do with regard to that
island? Why, an admiral, who had attained She most
fair, and most unsullied laurels, in the most honorable
and essential services to his country, had exerted a dili
gence so peculiarly extraordinary, so wonderful in its
celerity in the tarnishing of those laurels, and blafiing
that fame which he had acquired, by ads so barbarous
as were perpetrated in the capture of St. Euftatius.
He said, that the island had fortifications, indeed, asit
was supposed in the universality of their commerce, and
the general utility of their trade to the whole world,
the states general had, to be sure, fixed a kind of ar
mament there, confining of 53 men, of wrom only
twelve were men of colour, the rest were Mulattoes.
He said, that it was not to be wondered, if a surrender
were made, immediately upon a summons from a Bri
tifli admiral, supported by a British fleet, even by a
force so very formidable, as the force of St. Euftatius.
He Rated the humanity of fir George Rodney's intend
ed attack upon St. Vincent, immediately after the war
which the Almighty had levied agamfl men, which
Ihewed them their dust and littleness ; and compared
with it the conduct of doHor Franklin, who had, com
miserating the misfortunes of humanity, done every
thing to foften the rigours of war, by obtaining orders
to be given to all the American privateers, not at all to
molest any vessels which were employed in the carriage
of provisions, which orders were not complied with at
tentively as Americans, but as affectionate well-wishers
of the cause of humanity.
He said, that the humanity of the design was equal
to the success ofthe attempt. Forafter our forces had
made a landing at St. Vincent, they found the island
in so much a better situation than they hoped for, and
the natives so much better prepared for them than they
expected, that they, after looking at, and, as it were,
viewing the force of the country, retreated, as they
fay, in good order, and without flying. What was
the consequence of all this? the Charibbs, whom a
legislative aft had already exasperated, and whom a
new intended aft of violence had again exasperated
endeavoured to destroy every Englishman on the isl
and, had not the humanity of the governor interposed
his mercy to their barbarity. Haw did we avail cur
selves of this example of tenderness ? when we had feiz
ed on the government of the island of St. Euftatius, ob
tained the governor's sword, and had made it entire
ly fubjeft to us, our next conduct was to confifcate
all property there, in contradiction to the law of nati
ons, and to three express laws of the land-he meant
the Grenada bill, the tobacco bill, and the cotton bill.
Their next process was an attack on the Jews, the most
barbarous possible, because, being a defencelefs nation,
they have no place, or set of men, to vindicate their
cause. If we attack the Dutch, Holland can support
them; if the French, they have the fame advantage ;
while those poor men, exciles from every country,
where the great link of commerce from the East to
the Weft-Indies. In every language, and in every
colour, you find them ; and though there may be
some criminals among them, from such an abandoned
situation, yet there were among them likewise some
worthy men. To those poor unfortunate men, their
practice was to order them, to about one hundred and
one, into a weigh house, much such a one as those at
an English turnpike ; here they were allowed at firft
to take some baggage; but the most tender of all chari
ties, that of parent and husband, were to be dissolved,
and they were compelled to relinquish their families.
They demanded what time they were to depart ; they
were anfivered on the morrow ; and on asking where to,
they were not informed. Their clothes which they
had on were ripped open, their portmanteaus and par
cels searched, and upwards of eight thousand pounds
plundered from them. The next aft was to fend away
thirty of them, to the island of St. Christopher's ; the
remainder, by a peculiarity of indulgence, were per
mitted to flay. The Americans followed, the French
succeeded; then the Dutch, then the British. Sir
George Rodney received a petition from a committee
of St. Christopher's, to which his answer was, in reply
to a Rating, that they had the authority of ads of
parliament, that he had come to make war, and war
he had made: that as to the ads of parliament they were
framed by factious persons in England. He then Ra
ted, that the Grenada ad was proposed by lord Beau
chump and fir Grey Cooper. The other ads mioiftry
look on as the great support of the trade. He then
gated, as the law of nations, the authority of Vattel ;
Mr. Rawlinson, the other member for Liverpool, a
greed in general with Mr. Gafcoigne, as to the petition,
but differed as to his opinion of the motion, which he
thought well founded.
The honourable capt. John Lutterell, (the conquer
or of Omoa) th'n spoke against the motion ; he chiefly
observed, that if the papers now called for were pro
duced to the house, they might be the innocent means,
by a mifconftrudion, of calumniating the characters
of the brave and fortunate admiral and general ; and
he ever did, and always should reprobate any attempt
to attack or even examine into the condud of any per
son in his absence, more especially when that absence
was occasioned by his serving his country ; and he be
lieved no person would attempt to fay that the honour
able admiral and general had not served their countiy,
and that too most essentially ; and while of course they
were prevented exculpating themselves, or align
ing those motives for their cono'uH, which, if pre
sent , they would be enabled to do. Mr. Lutterell
also added, that the laying before the homfe, in the ab
sence of those gentlemen, the papers called for by the
motion, might be the means of creating disturbances
between the Commanders and their refpeaive officers ;
he therefore objected to the motion.
Lord George Germaine rose, chiefly to corroborate
what had been said by the two members for Liverpool,
relative to the petitAm from their constituents, which
his lordship having done, he proceeded to speak short
ly to the question then before the house ; and observed
he agreed with the honourable gentleman who made
the motion, so far as the present was a case of a pecu
liar nature, and certainly demanded the greatest at
tention ; but he could not conceive that the people
who were found on the island of St. Euftatius, calling
themselves inhabitants thereof, could exped, or were
in the least entitled to even common lenity, much less
that peculiar degree the honourable gentleman seemed
to fay he thought ought to have been shewn them, for
it was indeed too true, a great part of these people
were English, and stiled themselves fubjefts of the
crown of Great Britain: but was that a reason why
lenity ought to be shewn them ? Quite the reverie ; and
if any thing could more than another require exempla
ry punishment and severity, it wa§ their conduct ag
gravated by being English ; they who had carried on
a contraband trace with the enemies of this country,
and by the means of that island, which was nothing
more than a fiore house or mart, from which all neces
saries were conveyed to our enemies, and that too by
these very people who would now pretend to confider
themselves fubjeHs of and seek proteaion from the ve
ry kingdom, which, by their unnatural and illicit com
merce, they had attempted to distress and ruin. For
his part, he considered the condud of his majesty's
commanders in that part of the world as highly just,
equitable and meritorious ; they had made a difference,
and with great propriety, between those who were aflu
ally fubje&s of the states general, and those who, allur
ed by the gain of an unlawful trade, had traiteroußy
resorted there, and sheltered themselves in the most
villainous practices under the cover of living in a neu
tral fattlement: To the former all lenity had been
shewn, to the full as much or more than the English
experienced at Greanada: as to the latter they deserved
every degree of severity that could be infiiHed. He al
lowed the condud, with regard to the Jews, was barba
rous and cruel ; that he was very well informed, that
the whole was done without the privity of fir George
Rodney, and that he had given orders, as soon as it
came to his knowledge, to have it amended; that the
gentleman who had given this information was in Lon
don, and ready, it they pleased, to be examined at
the bar.
for war having taken a froother appe^ran^e, and from
the unfortunate fubjefl, attended only to the offending
sovereign.
He said this, as the last authority, was always of most
consequence, and preferable to every name which may
have had a Latin termination: the bed precedent, too,
was the last on the capture of Grenada. There the ex
ample given by the French king was well worthy of
imitation. He Rated the contradiHorinefs of the Ra
tue law to the business of St. Euflatius, pointed out
some, inflances of severe injuries happening to persons
here, by the conduf tof fir George Rodney. He con
cluded his speech by a motion,
" That an humble address be presented to his majef
“ ty, praying that he will be graciously pleased to or
" der his ministers to lay before this house, copies of
' all letters, papers, and correspondences officially re
" ceived from the Weft-Indies, relative to the capture
“ of St. Euftatius, and other Dutch islands in thole
parts."
That as to ailing contrary to law, he had too great a
deference for the legislative authority, and that defer
ence, he trufled, too well known to give any person au
thority, to suppose he would fanftify any thing illegal,
The law was open for every person who felt himfelf of
fended, or injured, and they might have recourse to
it.
Mr St. Andrew St. John answered lord George, and
by referring to the St Chiftopher's Gazettes, and the
proclamations, orders, &c. issued by fir George Rod
ney andgeneral Vaughan, endeavoured to prove that the
noble lord's declaration, that those officers were igno
rant of the treatment experienced by the Jews, could
not be well founded. Mr. St. John also- said, that the
noble lord had argued, as if the present motion was
merely calculated to impute blame to the admiral and
Mr Stanley supported the motion, and charged the
members for Liverpool with having neglected a petition
sent to them from their conflituents.
Mr. Gafcoigne, member for Liverpool, exculpated
himfrif by faying, that he had conferred with his col
league and they both agreeing it was too violent,
had sent it back by express. That he hai delivered
another to the noble lord below him (lord George
Germaine) and he had information, that it been sent to
the proper person. He fajd, he was not prepared to
argue the queflion, but had formed a hope, th^t bet
ter authorities than verbal assurances, or a detail of
well told misfortunes, would have been adduced.
general, whereas in faa, it was not intended to throw
blame on any particular individuals, but was intended
merely to afford the house an opportunity of enquir
ing iito the matter, and difeovering whether the fatis,
Rated by the hon. gentleman, who made the motion,
were true ; and as blame, in that case, would be unavoi
dably found to be imputable fomewere, to know to
whom that blame was really to be' ascribed.
Lord Nugent opposed the motion, and retorted on
Mr. Burke, for his laughable attack on his lordship last
Friday ; degrading as comparing him to a cat was, he
said, it was railing him one degree above the animal
Rate he was condemned to two years ago, for then he
was only a rat. He said, if he was not able to dis
charge the total of his debt of wit to Mr. Burke at
once, he was resolved not to die an insolvent debtor,
but would pay him a shilling in the pound at a time
and so got rid of the whole by infialments.
Mr. Fox made a most brilliant speech, in which he
powerfully attacked the noble lord at the head of the
American department, and strenuously supported his
honourable friend's motion. Mr. Fox spoke for near
two hours.
The lord advocate zealously defended the charaTe^
of hr George Rodney and general Vaughan from the
imputations, which he insisted upon it had been insinu
ated against them in the course of the debate.
Mr. Courtney spoke a war n eutogium on the admi
ral and general; he was called to order by Mr. T.
Townsend, for alluding to the king.
The other speakers were Mr. Bying, Mr. Bambef
Gafcoigne, senior, lord Surry, fir Thomas Egerton, ge^
neral Smith, and Mr. W. Stanhope.
Mr. Burke wound up the whole of the debate, by an
animated speech of an hour's continuance, in which he
repeated all his former arguments, and added several
new ones, controverting the strongest of the lord advor
cate's positions with infinite ability and humour.
The house divided at half pafteleven o'clock.
Ayes — 86
Noes — 160
Majority 74
The house rose at twelve.
BALTIMORE, August 14.
The recent movements of earl Cornwallis, giving
reason to apprehend that he meant to visit this Rate,
and probably this town, the militia of this county,
and those ajacent, assembled with the greatest cheer
fulnefs, spirit and alacrity, and we are allured, b,
good authority, that within two days after the late a
larm, near 2800 effective men, of this county only, ap
peared in arms, in town, and were reviewed by gene
ral Buchanan, our county lieutenant. They have
since been very honourably dismissed, in consequence
of advice ofthe enemy (under the immediate command
of earl Cornwallis) having landed at York-Town and
Gloucester, in Virginia.
Extract of a letter from Hampton, Virginia, dated Au
gust 9, 1781.
" I make no doubt but you have been fully inform
ed of lord Cornwalliis's movements about Virginia;
when he left Williamsburg he crossed James-river, with
his army, to Cobham, and proceeded to Suffolk, and
after Raying a few days there, went to Fortfmouth,
doing very little injury, except what is common when
an army is marching through a provision country.
After flaying about a fortnight at Fortfmouth, his
lordship embarked about 3000 troops with some horse,
and proceeded to York-Town, and Gloucester, where
they remain, doing very little injury to the inhabit
ants, except taking provisions, for which they Promise
payment, Yesterday morning 750 foot and cavalry
landed at Newport News ; 600 proceeded up to York;
150 horse were left at Newport-News. I was there
last evening, since then I have not heard from them.
But what we have been able to learn, in general is,
that the enemy are all moving from Fortfmouth, it be
ing a fickl yplace, intending to continue at Gloucester,
and York as long as they can; but I am certain they
will not be able to hold it long, though they have ma--
ny very great advantages over us. Our negroes flock
fft to them, and ease the fold ery of the labourers
work. Many persons in Virginia, with large fortunes
are totally ruined. The inhabitants in our county,,
have not, as yet fuffered much (only in the loss of
some negroes) but I fear the time of our difirefs is
drawing near; but we must rely on Provi ence, who
has protected us so far. By the last accounts of the
marquis, he was at Bird's last Sunday, and was. to be
in iVilliamlburg on Tuesday evening. He has got a
good army, confiding of 8000 effeHivemen, and I hope
will be able to drive the enemy from York.. I cannot;,
learn whether they have began to entrench or not; If
they have not, the marquis will be a bie to attack them
to advantage."
Another letter from Hampton, fays, that the enemy
have entirely evacuated Fortfmouth, and that colonel-
PROVIDENC E, August 1.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman at Lanefborough,
Massachusetts-Bay, to his friend in this town, dated
July 27, 1781.
" We have just received advice from the Mohawk
river, that a party of Indians and tories, of about 20Q
came down, a fewd lysfince, to Conojahara, 60 miles
above Albany they were discovered by part of a regi
ment of Albany militia, of 70 men ; who by craft led
them on to where the most of the troops lay in Ambush
in three divisions ; the front fired upon them as they
advanced-; when the enemy, not knowing their num
bers, turned to the right, when they were again fired
upon ; tiiey then attempted to file to the left, where
they were again repulsed; when they turned to the
right about, and ran off in the greatest confufion, leav
ing behind them their killed and wounded, and a hun
dred and fifty packs behind them ; our people being fa
much inferior in numbers did not think it prudent ta
fol ow them. The number of slain and taken is vari
ously reported. There has lately been a small scout
ing party of our militia, about half a dozen killed and
taken near Chimney point, opposite to Crown point.".