The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-10-31 00:00:00, page 2

'W ^ W v 0R K, oaober^
Wednesday arrived ' the schooner Three Brothers,
Zacheus Coffin, master, bound from Cadiz to Balti
more, laden with a cargo of old flierry and fruit, eight
weeks out, prize to the privateer Surprize, Hall, com
mander.
ExtraD of a letter, dated London, August 7, 1782.
" From good information I learn, that not only the
people of London and Weflminfter, but the nation in
general, are growing more and more averse to Ameri
can independence, and reprobate the policy of our not
c rryiug on the warin America. I have been conflant
]y endeavouring, and am in hopes r at this country
will. atJaft, be convinced, how wretched the conditi
on will be, whenever they shall give independence to
America ; upon the whole, I hope administration will,
as the king certainly has long done, fee this ruinous
measure in its true and fatal light,—and that the na
tion will yet fuppdYt them in recovering the colonies,
upon which its fa'fety so essentially depends. If such
a difpofrion should continue in the oeopfe, I am per
suaded the prefers cabinet will never accede'to Ame
rican independence, notwir.flandir g what has puffed
in the house of commons/ —it is fat'd his grace of Rich
mond arid general Conway have agreed to aft with lord
Shelburne, whole principles have been, and yet are,
determined againfl the independence of America. They
are, as I am informed, grown very cool and indiffer
ent refpeHing that measure, and will no longer pro
moteit; and this seems very probable from their con
tinuing in office.
« The lord advocate of Scotland (Dundafc) coming
in+o power, is considered as a great national point ;
he is manly and Ready, and in direA opposition to the
fyflem of granting independence to America : the spi
rit of that part is on the decline."
Letters received by the packet mention, that a ve
ry ihort time before the earl of Chatham's death, his
lordship communicated to the earl of Shelburne all his
plans and channels of procuring the emlieft and most
authentic intelligence from foreign parts, which his
lordship has managed so well since, as to have rather
enlarged than diminished.
S I R,
Dublin Caflle, July 22, 1782.
BEING informed from many quarters that the
) mifreprefentationsfo generally circulated, relative
to the supposed introduction of a bill into the house
of lords, in England, declaring the right of the British
parliament to bind Ireland in matters of external le
gislation, have created much uneasiness in many parts
of the kingdom, and particularly among your respec
table constituents: I must intreat your good offices in
setting right a matter, the mifeonception of which may
so materially injure the public service, by disturbing
that harmony, which is, I trufl, fully and finally esta
blished between the kingdoms, the interruption of which
cannot but be highly detrimental to the interests, hap
piness and tranquility of both ; the report of the above
mentioned bill having been fufFered to lie upon the ta
ble of the house of lords, is wholly without foundation.
It is true that the earl of Abington did intimate a with,
that it might be permitted to lie on the table, bat up
on being informed that the proposition would be ob
jected to, and there appearing no probability of his
finding himfelf supported by any lord in the house,
his lordship declined making any motion upoA the
fubjeft, and consequently there appeared upon the mi
nutes of that day's business no traces whatever of the
transition. I have reason to believe, that these were
the motives that induced his lordship to wave his in
tention, but the fa&s of his having made no m tion in
the house, and of the bill not having been permitted
to lie upon the table (as has been falfely represented)
are unquestionable. I cannot but flatter myfelf that
this matter, rightly understood, willceafe to be an ob
jeft o' uneasiness to the public, naturally and most
commendably jealous where they conceive their ac
knowledged right exposed to danger, and I am conff
dent, that the anxiety of Ireland upon this occasion
may be more justly imputed to a laudable and zealous
attachment to those rights, than to any forward dis
positions of harbouring ill grounded doubts of the ho
nour and good faith of Britain.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient 'nimble servant
RICHARD FITZPATRICK.
To the Right honourable the Provost
of Trinity college.
LONDO N, August 9.
Lord Shelburne is so sensible that the independence
of America will flrike at the root of the marine firength
of this country, that be has it in contemplation to
lay a plan before parliament for a naval,militia, to con
fid of 50,000 men, who are to be regulated in such a
manner as to b A called out on every emergency.
The death of lord Rockingham, arid the appoint
ment of the earl of Shelburne, blasted in a moment, and
fortunately for this country, the whole scheme of po
litical revolution ; and, as it has been well observed
because these gentlemen would not be permitted to do
every thing in their own way, they would do nothing
but oppose.—May God preserve the people from such
Patriots, is now the sincere with of every English
man who feels for the honour and interests of his coun
try.
It is certainly determined not to withdraw the troops
from Charleflown and New-York, till a peace is per
fefted with all the powers at war.
Lord Howe, though very deficient in point of
flrength, his fleet never exceeding five and twenty fail of
the line, has maintained the honour of the British flag,
having protested two homeward bound fleets, kept'
the seas as long as the enemy, who had a much supe
rior force, and having accomplished these objefts of h'is
cruize is returned fafe into port.
I R E L A N D.
The fol'owing letter, written by the right honour
able Mr. Fitzpatrick, to the provost, has been trans
mitted by that gentleman to the mayor.
Further Advices by the Swallow Pacquet.
What claim can we have to prosperity or success,
while we fuffer ourselves to be the dupes of the most
notorious hypocrisy : while we surrender into the hands
of our cruel adversary those powers that must eventu
ally destroy us ; while we stand Bill and witness, with
a stupid insensibility, the highest Rations of the'king
dom made the public rewards of a perfidious fineffe,
- and a treacherous deffertion of principle!
Ex^aH of a letter from Algefiras, July 17.
Activity seemed to be a flranger in our camp be
fore Gibraltar, till the duke de CriNon assumed the
command: since that period the whole camp is daily
in motion; the general is on horseback at fix in th<
morning, and passes his time between the workmen and
the troops under arms, directing the former and ex
ercising the latter in those evolutions which he forefees
may be necessary in forming the grand attack, for
which he annot be ready, after all his cure, before the
20th of August. The oldefl soldier in the world never
beheld such an immen'fe train of artillery at any siege
as we have there; there are at present three batteries
in forwardnefs, of nine guns each, 54 pounders, for
battering one particular part of the fortrTs, the fire
to be angular, and to prevent the besieged from having
a spot to stand on in fafety in that quarter. There are
vast ovens also for heating balls, which are to be sent
red hot into the garrison, in hopes of setting fire to the
powder brought out of the magazines for the (upply of
ThE public attention being fixed on the relief of
Gibraltar, we are happy in announcing, that it is to
be conduced with the utmost alacrity, fkib, and reso
lution, For this purpose a privy council is to meet
either to-morrow or Friday, who are to draw up the
inftruHions to lord Howe for that expedition, and in
order to second his lord/hip's operations, every ship,
even feme of t^e guardships are designed to accompany
him to the fuccour of this modern Troy.
Aug. 13. Several large ,ships were taking in Bores
at Toulon, about the middle of last month, for the Eaff-
Indies, as by the lad Accounts from the Mauritius, it
appealed that the intercepting of the concoys from Bred
in December and April lafi, would in all probability
reduce that island to the greatest extremity, if fom:
'extraordinary (applies were not sent in the course of
the present year
L O N D O N, August r.
It is a little extraordinary that lord Afhburton,
though a cabinet minister, has never had the honour
of a private conference with his majesty since the firft
week of his appointment, nor has bren at Rew or
Windsor to wait on his royal master in the course of
the summer.
A morning paper fays, the lord chancellor labours
incessantly for a coalition of parties ; if he succeeds,
Mr. Fox certainly comes to the admiralty as president
of that board.
PARI S, July 26.
After the decision of this famous siege of Gib
raltar, 30 ships of the combined fleet will fail for St.
Domingo. ^lt is thought that they will be commanded
by comte dEftaing.
According to letters from the camp before Gibral
tar, the due de Cri lon had made an offer to governor
Elliot of some freh- provisions for hi c table; the Eng.
li(h governor returned thanks to the duke for his offer,
but that he ought to confine himfelf to sharing the lot
of his brave garrison, and be as temperate as them.
The prince of Auftrias never (peaks but with efieem of
the courageous defender of the pillars of Hercules.
We are assured that the k ; ng of Morocco hath lignifi
ed his desire of assisting at the fi,g e of Gibraltar, and
that his catholic majefly has most willingly given his
consent ; in return the African monarch hath made
a present to the besiegers of 8000 oxen.
Europe.
H AGU E, August 18.
THEIR high mightinesses have appointed Mr. Ge
rard Brantfon, bourgomafter of the town of Arn
hem, and deputy in the Rates general from the pro
vince of Guiders, to go to France, as plenipotentiary
of this republic, to aft in concert with our ambassador,
Mr. Leftevezou de Berkenrode, in the work of peace.
Further Advices by the late Arrivals from
Farl Temple has made the mofl splendid prepara
tions for his frifh lieutenancy, and is determined to
spend, if necessary, thirty thousand pounds per ann.
in addition to his salary. He has already engaged
twenty four servants io livery, and nine out of livery,
exclofive of aid-de camps, valets, cooks, &c.
Yesterday some dispatches w-re received from gene
ral Haldimand, governor of Quebec, which mention
that every thing remfyed perfeHly quiet in the pro
vince, but that he had thought proper to reinforce the
garrison of Montreal, and order the fortifications to be
put id a proper Bate of defence.
It is finally fettled that governor Walkings is not so
be recalled, and that all the proceedings against the
East Indian delinquents shall not be resumed: but in
stead of that process, that a new plan shall be laid be
fore parliament, in which all past offences shall be par
doned, and provisions only made to prevent rapacity,
defalcation and cruelty, for the time to come. That
towards tbi- great desirable object the fyflem of Asiatic
policy Shall undergo a total change, and the govern
ment of the Bast be taken altogether out of the hands
of the company, and vested in those of the crown, that
the management of the commerce of India shall only be
left to the dir Tors in Leadenhall-fireet ; but the foie
appointment of all the great offices, as well as the for
mation of all measures of date, necessary either for the
Collection of the territorial revenues, or the preservation
of our possessions, shall be veiled solely in the crown,
by which th're Mil be a direct responsibility created
and a mere simple fy fiem established.
Five fiil of the line are expelled home with the next
Jamaica fleet, which will enable us to preserve that
fupermrity in the European seas, which lord Howe is
likely to obtain before he fails for the rock of Gibral
tar.
BOSTO N, Odober 17.
the different batteries ofthe besieged. It is the inten
tion of our general, as soon as every thing is ready
for commencing the most dreadful fire thatever was di
rected against any fortrefs, to fend a flag to governor
Elliot, to offer him the most honourable terms if he
will furreader the place ; but it is not expected that
the English commander will listen to any terms, till he
is reduced to the lad extremity ; his past conduct
makes us look for a desperate refiflance on his part ;
and we are all ready to do him the juflice to think,'
that when he does surrender it will be after having
made the most gallant def nee.
“ The duke, though he expels a reftffal to his
summons, is nevertheless determined to fend it, that he
may not be answerable for the carnage that must en
sue if Gibraltar should be stormed. Strong as the for
trefs is at present, there is a moral certainty that it
must fall, though the garrison should be even twice as
numerous as it is ; it is impossible that any garrison
could long bear the fatigue consequent upon an inces
sant firing, day and night, from some hundreds of can
nons and mortars ; we therefore look for the fall of
Gibraltar, not more from the execution of our artil
lery, than from the Bate of exhauftment into which
the garrison mud be thrown by continual watchings,
and endless labours in endeavouring to restore their de
molished works. So certain are we of success, that
the government of Gibraltar is already promised to the
duke ^f Medina Sidonia. The old idea of undermin
ing the rock, and blowing it up, is renounced as im
praaicable."
The fire of liberty begins to pervade Scotland; as
an evidence of it, the counties of Inverness, Moray
and Caithnefs, have entered into resolutions, and form
ed a committee of correspondence, in order to consult
about a more constitutional representation ; and in con
sequence thereof, a meeting took place in Edinburgli
on Monday last, and though the resolutions of which
have not yet come to hand, certain it is that their de
sign is to concert means to carry these resolutions into
execution, and to confider on a proper mode of col
leSling the feofe of all the other counties of that king
dom upon that fubjed, which they juflly fay is of so
much national importance.
Aug. 5. The admiralty declare that the grand fleet
in its progress to the relief of Gibraltar, will consist of
37 ships of the line, and that this force will be abso
lutely required to meet the combined fleets, which cer
tainly intend to dispute their passage. The ships which
came home with the Jamaica trade cannot be all em
ployed, but three of them will be able to make the
voyage. Two expected home with the leeward trade
will also go, and the seamen procured by this means
will make up the number to man 37 fail of the line, be
sides having a small force to cruize for the protection of
our coast. Thus do we essentially reap the benefit of
that exertion and indufiry which lord Keppel has in
troduced into this department, and to which we have
been unaccu flomed for so many years.
The republic of Holland is so rich and well peopled,
that it is no wonder they should be capable of proving
a very potent enemy, r oozh having been in a Rate of
peace so many years, during which time their sea and
land forces have been much reduced, it is not to be
expelled they should suddenly cut any great figure in
offenfive measures. When the Dutch were attacked
by France and England in 1672, they made a very good
Hand against the united powers for two years, till
France poured her armies into the low countries, when
they found means to call off king Charles's forces, af
ter which they engaged the French alone several times
at sea, with great success.
August 6. The ensuing intended relief of Gibraltar
will be the most compleat of any since the commence
ment of the present war, as there are above 30 fail of
Fore ships and transports going out with stores and
provisions, wholly for the use of that garrison.
Near (even thousand thefts and packages of tea
have be^n taken out of one of commodore Johnson's
prizes, and the Other, bring a larger ship, is supposed
to contain eight thousand more ; these cannot be fair
ly estimated at less than 230,000!. Hurling.
Extract of a Etter from Portsmouth, Feb. 19.
“ We have just now received intelligence, that the
Dutch fleet have funk two Wefels belonging to Banff,
and sent the crews afhor^; one of the vessels was from
London, and only (riled yef'erday morning. We had
a copy of Mr. Stephens's letter to your lord provost
of their failing aft night, by exprefs.''
Aug 9. Tte instrument with which the duke de
Crillon made such dreadful havock lately at Gibraltar,
killing two hundred men there at one firoke, and to
tally demdlifhing the baftion^ of Queen Anne and the
Princess Amelia, &c. is called a ~com # nge. Jt is a
kind of mortar and no new invention, having been
known so long since as the reign of the emperor Charles
the sth, but on account of the time it took in pointing
and loading, and the danger attending it to those who
performed this office, was then laid aside.
It is decided that the duk A s of Richmond and Graf-'
ton, and lord Keppel, are to refirn their employments
before the next meeting of Parliament.
Of the 20,000 men voted by Ireland for the service
of England, 6000 are aDually arrived; and such is the
spirit exerted by all ranks of men to procure the rest,
that it is expected in the course of half a year, the
whole number will be railed.
Though their Moorish highreffes are now brought
over to the interest, and are affixing the Spaniards to
reduce Gibraltar, yet they would fuffer mere by the
reduction of it, than any other power. lathe hands
of England it has been their protestor; in the hands
ofSpain it could, and' it certainly would oppress their
trade, and keep them in continual awe.
Aug. 15. On Wednesday last Mr. Wilkes paila
long vifft to tie comte de Graffe, in consequence of
some intimacy between them when the former was an
exile in France; and Sunday morning the comte re
turned Mr. Wilkes's visit at his house in Prince-court.
Wehminher ; then went to the Sardinian Ambassador's
Chapel in Golden Square, and having after that paid
his compliments to many of the nobility, previous to
his departure, he returned to the royal Hotel at two
o'clock, where the croud was so great, that he could
hardly get admission.