The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-07-28 00:00:00, page 2

Continuation of Letters found
on board the Britifli Packet,
bound to New-York, but ta
ken on her passage and carried
into France.
Admiralty -Office, March 8, 1781.
S I R,
IR ECEIVED, on the 20th ultimo, and imme
diately communicated to my lords commissioners of
the admiralty, your two letters of the 20th and
aid January 'aft, inclofing a copy of one from rear ad
miral Graves, with the state and condition of the
squadron under his orders in Gardner's-Bay: as also
an account of the remains of provisions at New-York;
and informing them of a revolt having happened in
Mr. Wallington's camp, and of the death of Mr. de
Ternay.
Their lordships have ordered some viite'lers, to pro
ceed under convoy of the Warwick, and will fend very
goon a large supply of provisions for tie use of the
fqu dron under your command ; and, with refpeCt to
fending out copper to sheath the sloops, I am to in
form you, that t'e navy-board will be acquainted
with your proposal, and that if it should not be tho't
advifeable to ad pt it, their lordships will fend out
coppered /loop# to relieve those which are not so, as
you desire. I am, fir,
Your most obedient,
humble servant,
(Signed) PH. STEPHENS.
Vice admiral Arbuthnot.
L 0 N D 0 N, April 26.
Admiralty Office, April 24.
Captain Balfour arrived this morning with dispatches
from vice admiral Arbuthnot, commander in chief
of majesty's (hips in North-A merica, to Mr. Steph
ens, of which the following are copy and extraCt:
Copy of a letter from vice admiral Arbuthnot to Mr.
Stephens, dated Royal Oak, in Lynhaven-Bay,
March 20, 1781.
[ Y letter of the '3th ult. by the Mercury packet,
will have acquainted their lordfllips with the loss
of the Culloden, and difmafture of the Bedford, in a
gale of wind, on the 23d of January, at the eaftend
of Long Island, and of the absence of the America,
which at that time was driven to sea, but returned
without damage on the Bth ult.
In the mean while every possible exertion was made
to get the lower masts out of the Culloden for the Bed
ford ; but the weather was so exceedingly severe and
tempestuous, that it was not effected until the aft infl.
The enemy deriving courage and confidence from
these misfortunes, at one time, during the absence of
the America, and believing the Bedford also was loft,
meditated an attack upon us, which however they laid
aside, after their emissaries had reconnoitred our pofi
fition in Gardiner's Bay.
An attempt was next made against our naval force
employed to co operate with brigadier general Arnold
in Virginia. I received early intimation of their in
tentions, and accordingly put the officers on their
guard. This was to have been executed by the Fveil
le, a coppered 64, and two frigates, which failed from
Rhode Island on the Sth of February ; but finding it
impossible to succeed in that quarter, left it on the 19th
following.
I had, on the communication of this intelligence,
dispatched the Charleftown to Caroline, to order the
Chatham (of whole arrival I had been informed; with
the Roebuck, Romulus, and some frigates, to proceed
to Virginia, and endeavour to cut off their return ;
which, however was rendered abortive by the short
nefs of their flay. lam sorry to add, that they fell
in with and captured the Romulus, on their passage
back, off the capes of Virginia, as she was proceeding
thither from Charleftown to relieve the Charon ; hav
ing failed in consequence of a prior arrangement, be
fore the Charleftown could reach her.
It was now necessary, from the difeontents in the
rebel army, and among the minds of the people, to
attempt famething to revive a drooping cause : the
danger of Virginia from the enterprizing spirit of briga
dier general Arnold, had he been firengthened, which
was likely to happen, mu ft become imminent ; the plan
therefore, adopted by the rebels and their allies, was
by a combined operation to attack him, and, by re
ducing him and his detachment, to set at liberty the
whole force of th© southern provinces to aft against
lor Cornwallis in Carolina. The parties from Mr.
Wallington's army, under the marquis de Fayette,
were to proceed down the Elk, by way of Maryland ;
wh 111 a large body of Virginia militia, under a Mr.'
Nelson in this colony, were collecting to attack him
in concert with he French troops commanded by the
count de Rochambault. I had the honour to give in
formation of these deficns to fir Henry Cltnton, at
New York and as my intelligence from Rhode-Ifland
was frequently and accurately repeated, the objects
for the for rice of the squadron became clear and open
to my view
The season the enemy chose to execute this measure,
was while the Bedford was remafling. The lower marts
of the Culloden having been brought into Gardiner's
Bay, she hauled alongside the London, and got them
in on the sth instant, and was compleatly rigged and
rfldy for sea the gth.
The anemy, I presume, were very soon apprized of
the Bedford being entirely stripped, and conceiving
this work would take up a considerable time, began to
embank troops on the sth ; by the Bth near 2000 of
their i^oops were put on board the squadron, which
had been previously prepared in offier rrfpefls, and
pushed to sea, with a strong easterly gale, in the even
ing ofthe fame day.
' On the 9th the whole of his majefly's fquadron,under
mV command fell down to the entrance of Gardiner's
Lay ; and the next morning just before I weighed, I
received corroborative information from fir Henry
Clinton, that very considerable detachments were fend
ing to the southward from Mr. Wallington's army;
but his excellency did hot appear to have any imme
diate idea of reinforcing brigadier general Arnold with
troops. Supposing, however, that he might afterwards
judge it necessary, as his situation would become ex
tremely critical, I direOed captain Hudson of the Rich
mond, the senior officer at New-York, to take his ex
cellency's sentiments on the fubje& ; and, should it be
deemed proper, to .ake under his convoy the troops
that might be sent to aid those already employed in
Virginia ; but, should his excellency think such relief
unnecessary, he wa< to join me off the Chefapeak with
the Richmond, Orpheus, and any others of his Majes
ty's ships that might arrive at New-York in the inte
rim.
M. ARBUTHNOT
Extras of a letter from vice-admiral Arbuthnot to Mr.
Stephens, dated, royal Oak, Lynnaven Bay, March
3% 1781.
TN continuation of my letter of the 20th instant, I
1 have the honour to acquaint you, that I put to
sea with the squadron under my command on the
morning of the 14th, and fleered a course for the De
laware, where it was conceived likely the enemy might
endeavour to take refuge; but as the Hate of the
weather towards noon appeared to indicate a gale,
which is generally expeHed at this season, I judged
advifeable to return to the Bay, where I anchored the
fame evening.
The next day and following we had the wind from
the northward, which had we been at sea, must in
evitably have crippled some of our ships, or driven
me very considerably to the southward.
On the 26th, a reinforcement of troops, innumber
about 2000, commanded by major general Philips,
arrived from New-York, under the escort of captain
Hudson of the Richmond, with the ships and vessels
named in the margin* : At the fame time the Isis and
Pearl, which had been detached to observe the route
of the enemy, returned without having difeow red
them ; the former had sprung her main mafl in the
late gale.
The Medea was immediately dispatched to recon
noitre the Delaware.
The army under major general Philips were im
mediately forwarded to Portsmouth ; and the junction
effected between the forces at present there under
brigadier general Arnold.
I wa t with great impatience to imbrace the firft op
portunity to put to sea, which I shall seize the mo
ment it offers. For these lafl two days the weather
has been so squally, as to preclude all communication
by boats between the ships of the squadron.
, M. ARBUTHNOT.
* Orpheus, Chatham, Savage, Halifax, Bonnetta,
and Vulcan fire Blip.
Twelve Hard Dollars Reward.
STOLEN, on the night of the 25th inst.
out of the pasture of the fuhfcribcr, near the sign
pf the Ship, on Lancaster road, in F^ft-C!n township,
Chefter^ county, A ydlowith Bay GEI D'NG, I be
l^v^ 6 years old last spring, about 14 hands hi, h,
strong and neatly made, with a small st ar in his fore
head, has a very remarkable blemish, it being a kind of
half circle with scarcely any hair on it, on his buttock,
just abovs, and incompaffing the root of bis tad, occa
sioned b« the mad itch when a colt, some fmallfddle
spot on his back; a natural hotter and canters pretty
han Iy, ffiod all round. Any perlon oringing said
Horse to the fuhfcriber, and hearing the thie: until
conv &ed, shall receive the above Reward, and for the
Horf~ onl,, Eight H rd Dollars and reasonable Charges
paid by READING HOWELL. July
On the tenth I cleared the coast of Long-Island with
the squadron, and proceeded to the southward as ex
ped ticufly as possible, in the hope of being able to
fight the enemy before their entry to the Chefapeak,
or, if practicable, to attack them there.
On the 13th, in latitude 39: 30 north, within a few
leagues of the coafl, I spoke a vefrl from i ondon f or
New-York, which had seen the French squadron the
day be ore a degree to the southward, confiding of 8
fail of large ships, three frigates and a tender. I part
ed from her the fame evening, an 1 fleered such a Course
as would best enable me to intercept it.
The fame evening a gale from the N. W. was ex
ceedingly favourable to the pursuit, and pushed the
squadron on; its violence however appears by the e
vent to have equally retarded the enemy, which must
have lain too while it lafled.
[Here follows an account of the aCtion between the
two fleets, which was pu' lifhed in our paper of the
3d of April from a New-York paper, and is nee 'lefs
here to repeat.]
I have had a conference with brigadier general Ar
nold, and find his force began to be pressed for pr^vi
fion, as well as by the formidable combination against
him, Fayett's continental detachment is blocked up at
Annapolis by his majesty's sloops the Hope and gene
ral Monk. The rebel militia difafftHed to the service
will speedily disperse ; and the count de Rochambault
must look another opportunity of visiting Virginia.
The plan of the rebel campaign is entirely disconcert
ed; and I flatter myfelf these events will be produc
tive of very solid advantages to his majesty's service.
I have detached frigates after the enemy, and shall
put to sea immediately with the squadron, to f llov
their movements, and bring them if possible to a second
a&ion. In this firft they must have loft great num
bers of their men, though their rigging fuffered little
to appearance.
I have the hohor to inclofe a return of the killed
and wounded, lift and disposition of the squadron, and
line of battle.
Captain Balfour, who is charged with delivery of this
letter, served as a volunteer for fix weeks on board
of the Royal Oak, and was with me in the day of
adion.
By the UNITED SIATES in Congress
Affcmbled, July 22, 1781.
resolved,
TH E Gentlemen who are appointed to carry the
above benevolent Views of Congress into execution,
entertain the most sanguine hopes of success. from the
well known humanity of the inhabitants of these flares.
They deem it unnecessary to address them in a more
particular manner on the present occasion, as fuffering
virtue never fails to produce correspondent sensations.
But fatisfied of their disposition to serve those, whose
attachment to the liberties of their country have redu
ced to temporary want and distress, they wish that it
may be done in a mode that will be most agreeabl 3 to
the delicacy of the persons to be relieved. Many of
those who in our glorious cause have preferred poverty
and exile, to affluence ant their country, are persons
of the firft rank and fortune, to whom donations, how
ever liberal, can scarcely be acceptable, nor is it wi(h
ed to hurt their feelings by offering t.,em. To them
a generous loan will be a m'Ch more acceptable service,
(which they can repay with interest) than any donati
ons whatever. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the
humane wouH lend rather than give, and show a
refpeH to their virtue by contributing to relieve their
present necessities in a way that will lay them under the
easiest obligations, and which they can repay with jus
tice and gratitude. They mean not however to reject
the donations of the humane, as there a e doubtlefe
some who have had virtue to rtfufe fubjeaion to a
haughty foe, though they had not fortunes at flake,
and towhom the obligation to repay, what their imme &
diateexigencies may require, would be too great a bur.
then. They have earned every favour by their firmnefs
and patriotism, and have a right to expefla just and
even a generous return from the country which th>y
have served with so much fidelity.
The feelings of the most obdurate would be fenfibjy
affeaed by the recital of the fufferngs of this devoted
people. Sympathy towards fc distinguished and nume
rous a class of fufrers, labouring under the weight
of accumulated misfortunes, will naturally incline
those who have it in their power, to afford them relief
and affi Hance.
The weak and exposed situation of their country,
fobjefted them to the chance of more than a common
share of calamity from the events of the war ; and their
merit in refilling, under fuchunpromifing appearances,
entitles them to a more abundant proportion of public
acknowledgment and efleem.
They have at length been compelled to abandon
their private possessions, been forced from their favou
rite pursuits of life, from the engagements of domes
tic tenderness.
Let those who are now enjoying the fleets of a gain
ful commerce, let those who arc now engaged in profi
table trades and profeffions, under the protection of a
free government—pause a moment, and reflect upon the
situation of these unfortunate Grangers
Indeed, it would be an indignity offered to the feel
ings of the inhabitants of these flares, to suppose, that
any other incentive would be necessary to engage their
humanity in favour of those worthy exiles, than the
bare description of their (offerings and their wants.
In a cause less glorious, and to virtue less brilliant,
the hand of benevolence should be tenerouffy extended.
But who can behold such patriotic characters, por
fefled of ease and opulence, voluntarily leaving tnei^
all at the call of their country, facrificing every thing
that man can hold dear at the.fhrme of liberty, and
not be struck with the br ; ghtnefsof the example ; and
fliow to the world, by the liberality of their con:
tributions, that they are net insensible to such eminent
worth.''
THAT five suitable persons be ap.
pointed and authorized to open a
fubfeription for a loan of thirty
thousand Dollars, for the support of luch
of the citizens of the States of South-Ca
rolina and Georgia, as have been driven
from their country and possessions by the
enemy; the said States refpedively, by
their Delegates in Congress, pledging their
faith for the re-payment of the sums io lent,
with interest in proportion to the sums which
shall be received by their refpedive citi
zens, as loon as the legislatures of the said
States shall severally be in condition to
make provision for so doing; and Congrefa
hereby guaranteeing this obligation :
I hat the laid five persons do also receive
voluntary and free Donations, to be applied
to the further relief of said fufferers.
Ordered, That the PrefiJent fend a co
py of the above rdolution to the execu
tives of the several States not in the oower
of the enemy, requesting them to promote
the luccefs of the said Loan and Donation,
in such way as they shall think best.
JULY 24, T7Br.
Resolved, That meffrs. William Bing
ham, John Bayard, George Meade, Jacob
Barge, and doctor Hutchinson, be, and
they are hereby appointed and authorifed
to open a fubicription for a loan, agreeable
to the resolution passed yesterday.
Extract from the minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary;