The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-11-29 00:00:00, page 2

as a further proof of his benevolent intentions, be give
assurances, that such of them as were found unworthy
to be admitted to the previleges reserved for their vir
tuous community, should be allowed a reasonable time,
and passports to convey themselves within the British
lines. It is almost unnecessary to add, thattbis procia
nation was treated with the contempt it merited.
The Soiebay failed about four weeks ago from San
dy Hook, in company with the fleet under the com
mand of admiral Graves, confining of 19 fail of the
line, one 90 gun {hip, and several frigates, in quest of
a fleet of French men of war, said to be laying in Che
fapeak-Bay. The British fleet appeared off Cape Hen
ry the morning of the ytn instant, upon which the
French fleet then at anchor in Lynhaven bay, immedi
ately fli* their cables, and flood out to sea; in the
mean time one of our frigates run into the bay and
cut away their buoys, by which they must inevitably
have loft all their anchors. After several manoeuvres
on both tides to gain the weather gage, p^rtof the Bri
tifh fleet got nigh enough to engage the rear of theFrench
line. The French admiral as usual, avoiding as much
as lay in his power a ciofe engagement, theaftion prov
ed undecifive, no material injury being done to a fin
gle fllip on our fide, although the firing continued for
abovean hour. Ten or twelve ships of our fleet could
only be brought to action, but we ^ay reafwnably
suppose the ships they were opposed to must have fuf
fered a very confiderab e loss of men, as toe fire was di
retired chiefly against their hulls. Our whole loss in
killed and wounded amounts so 133 men.
The two fleets were not more than one league dis
tant from each other when the Solebay left them 17
days ago.
Yesterday arrived the sloop Betsey from Bermuda,
by her we learn that a number of prizes have lately
been carryed in there : one of them a large Dutch fuow
from Amsterdam, bound for Baltimore, by the priva
teer brig Hammewd, with a full cargo of dry goods,
which fold for near twenty thousand pounds sterling ; a
Spanift ship & pulacre from Ravanna, laden with cocoa,
&c. by the Hornet sloop of war, and a schooner from
Baltimore with 500 barrels of flour.
A boat arrived on Sunday morning from Wifming.
ten, North Carolina.
South Carolina.
Ey NISBET BALFOUR, esquire, lieutenant colonel
of his majesty's 23d regiment or royal WJch fuzi
leers, commandant of Charleflown, &c. &c &c.
A PROCLAMATION.
7*THERE AS the enemy are in the greatest want of
all forts of supplies for their army, which can
not be procured but with infinite difficulty, except from
this town; and as it is the in lifpenfable duty of ofc
very friend to the Britifli government to use his utmost
endeavours to prevent their receiving such essential as
sistance: I do therefore call upon all his trajefty's sub
jests resident here, to exert, themselves for that purpose:
and whereas I have reason to fufped, that divers per
sons in this town, as well as in other parts of the
province, seduced from their allegiance through
avarice, or actuated by baser motives, have secretly
(applied the rebels with arms, ammunition, warlike
fibres, salt, medicines, boots, and every article of fad
dlery : I do give notice, that all persons detected
in such criminal practices, or furnifhing the enemy
with any kind of (applies whatever, will most as
suredly he punched as traitors to their king and coun
try: and for the more effectual (uppreffion of an evil
so prejudicial to his ma jefty's service: I do hereby of
fer a reward of 500 guineas to any person or persons
who will give information of such attrocious offenders,
so that they may be made examples of public justice.
Given under my hand at Charles-Towe, this
tenth day of September 1781,2nd in the twen
ty-firft year of his majesty's reign.
N. BALFOUR.*
* The Rebels have been ef^auUly fopplied with
sundry necessary camp equipage, from theßritifh garrif
©ns of York and Gloucester ; and we are told lord Corn
walliahaanot followed the example of Mr. Balfour, in is
suing a proclamation for apprehending the persons who
have (applied these Rebels.
The following letters (the originalsof which were found
in the Lord North packet, lately taken by captain
L'AUament, on his pallage from Cadiz) are re-pub
lifaed, by particular defir, from our paper of last
Saturday, on account of two or three errors.
Charleftown, S. Carolina, 6th O&ober, 1781.
SI R,
I WROTE you a very long full letter under the 9th
Anguft last, by our friend captain Clarke in the
Charlotte packet; and to pay my debt to you, sent
eight wedges of silver, weighing 209 oz. 13 dwt. which
I calculated would something more thap balance my
account—the packet is unluckily taken by the grand
French fleet off Virginia, and my silver I suppose loft,
but there was one chance in its favour, as foom as I
know whether or not it fails, fhII as occasion may re
quire, remit you a bill, mean time pray fend me fix
pair of floes, made large by my pattern.—Tae fate of
America and the dominion of Britain over any part
of it, depends much on this (aid French fleet; its suc
cess must be fatal to us, and hitherto I am sorry to
fay it has been too fuccefsful, in an engagemant with
pur fleet about a month ago, we came off not in the
manner I would wish an English fleet to take leave of an
enemy. Reinforcements are expected by us ; when
they arrive we are taught to believe great matters will
be done, arid we are here in daily expectation of hearing
at least that something is done - meanwhile in thia pro
vince our army though numerous, is a body without a
head, and in a late action, had the American general
Greene but followed his blow with the fame vigour it
was at firft made, the whole must have been cut off; as
'tis, we call it a vidory, but Providence, that surely
fought for us on this occasion, guard us from such
another vidory, which would entirely dedroy us!-~
Whether the commander in chief is playing at push
pin or some other such manly employment, I know
not' but unle(s a diversion, little to be hoped for from
hi afti^ty or ability, is made, the truly great lord
Cornwallis is in the must critical fituatiou, exposed I
fear to more than even he will be able so bear up againg
—l know you will call this picture one of my own
drawing, a mere cynical representation; but when all
is at flake, and that -trifled with daily, in a manner ob
vious to the mod fuperficial observer, who can forbear
complaining! My most (anguine wiffi is that I may
shortly have foundation to write you better things:
mean time give me leave to refer you to Mr. Kinlock,
who has undertaken to deliver this letter, for a true
and prrticul&r date of this province, and when you
have heard him, thank your good fortune that you are
not in it, and at leaf? with me and all your friends out
of it. With the most perfect esteem f remain, fir,
Your most obedient and most faithful servant,
JOHN HOPTON*.
Robe«t L°vie, efq ; at the house
of Mess. Greenwood and Hig
ginfon, merchants, Landon.
* This Mr. Hopton was in England at the time the
alliance with France was concluded, he came back to
Carolina, and willingly offered to take the oaths to
the Rate declaring he did so from conviction.
Charleftown, S. Carolina, October 1, 1781.
W HAVE wrote a number of letters to dear Miss Wells,
A and also one to Mrs. Wells, but as we have an ac
count that m@fl, if not all the vessels that went from
this place, are taken, I cannot expert you have receiv
ed any of my letters since June. Mr. Russel and many
others went in the William Henry picket, which we
hear is taken and carried to Boston. I wrote you by
Dr. Spence, who went in the flag that carried governor
Cheder from Pensacola, who had perm^ffion to flop
here, the governor left his secretary here and took ma
jor Benson, (who married Mils Garden) as his secreta
ry and we h^ar the flag is taken in consequence of major
Benson's being on board, I was in hopes my letters
would have got fafe, as flags are reckoned sacred ; but
when there is a breach of faith on one fide, the other
will take the advantage of it. I am sorry for the trou
ble it gives Mrs. Garden who was loth to part with her
daughter.
Miss Philp you have heard married a captain Camel,
who uses her father, mother and herfelf most cruelly.
Miss Leigh is married to major baron Monfberg, an
Hessian officer. Sir Egerton died, a week past, of a
broken heart, empty purse and domestic indifcretioo.
Lady L. goes to England the firft opportunity, to de
liver with her own hand a petition to the king, in behalf
of herfelf and children : I have no acquaintance with her
my felf, but by all accounts the is a thoughtless ex
travagant woman. Mrs. Carden (Judy Wragg that
was) died a few days ago, very suddenly or at least
with a flight illness.
I suppose you will have a particular account of the
state of things in this province The action at Eutaw
between colonel Stewart of the guards and general
Greene, though the former at last, by the affifiance of
colonel Cruger, got the victory, it does not redound
much to Stewart's credit: the numbers of the dead
and wounded are not known —-an officer was heard to
fay in town, another such victory would ruin their ar
my, I suppose you will hear the particulars firft in
England: the British army certainly had a mod pro
vidential escape, which in faH, may be attributed to
the rum which the Americans found in the British
camp, and the timely arrival of colonel Cruger, with
500 men from a foraging party : the dying officers that
were brought to town (poke hard things of thrir colo
nel. People in general feera diffatisfied, they think
there is not that countenance and protection given to
the loyalists as they had a right to exped, many who
had taken protection are gone to the Americans, not
altogether from choice but necessity, they were threa
tened by the Americans in the country, if t; ey did
not join them they would destroy their property, and
these who had families and no way of subsisting them
but upon their plantations, went with them rather
than have their families starve ; as the Americans at
present have the command of the country and can go
where they please The army that was at Eutaw are
now at Fludds, 12 miles beyond Eutaw. General Gold
With some men, are gone up; he is to have the com
mand, being higher in rank than Stewart ; whether
he will do any great good is a doubt, his character is
not the most amiable, his conduH does not promise
much. The plan of the Howe's feeras to have prevail
ed too much in America ; at New. York they cannot
Air ?o miles from <he city, and here we cannot go five
miles with any c rtainty of fafety: John Lining was
taken from his plantation last week, tnree miles b low
our's at Affiley river. Mr. Skottow, at Mr. Billen
ger's, was obliged to de the greatest part of a night in
the marsh at the Landing
You cannot, my dear Miss, form any idea of this
pi^ce; think what we must have fuffered this furnmer,
which is a remarkable hot one, in this small dufiy
town, no fruit but water-melons and mufh-meions,
both extravagantly dear. I have not seen a tolerable
peach, firawberry or apple this year ; and it is vry
disagreeable walking from the allies of the burnt
houses, which almost cloaks one. Happy are all that
are in England, let them be truly thankful, and not
complain for trifles.
Mr Saxby, I hear, has loft thirty of his best Ne
groes, who are dead- His crop remained at the plan
tation when his attorney, Mr. Godfrey, went to Ber
mudas, but as both armies have been there, it is reasona
ble to think he must have loft some. When the Britifli
left George Town, the Americans fold what they found
in it for 25,0001. flerling. There is no communication
between lord Cornwallis and this place, neither is there
any certainty where he is. There has not been any
accounts from New York for some time. The Ame
rican privateers kept on this coast, and took almost
every vessel going and coming: we have frequently
seen vetfels taken in fight of the town, and the Blonde,
commodore Berkely, who guarded the harbour on the
inside, he had been so long 011 shore that upon going in
a Ichooner, with some gentlemen, to pay his refpeds
to lord Lincoln when he came here, Berkley was the
firft that was sea sick on board the schooner. After
the coast was clear he went to fetch general Lesley from
Virginia, he took the Carysfort with him we, hear they
are both at New York. A complaint from the mer
chants went home against Berkely, but unfortunately
it was on board the Queen Charlotte packet, whch,
with many others is taken by the French fleet. Lord
Rawdon, maj. Doyle and his lady, and Mrs. Clarke,
were on board. I had almost forgot to tell you Mr.
Champney is married to the widow Wilson, Harvey's
daughter; John Tanno is to be married to Miss Rose,
John Mills has taken to himfelf a wife.
I am much obliged to you on my girls account for
the fafhmus. Your letters and mine are quite on diffe
rent fubjeHs: yours are the bright and pleasing fide,
mine the dark and gloomy. However such as it is [
hope you will receive it one among the many I have
sent, Mr. Bull* has been extreme ill but is now better,
he and my girls join me io compliments to yourfelf and
whole family. Yours sincerely, H. BULL.
Dear Miss,
After I had sealed my letter, I opened it to mention
what Mr- B- had desired me to do, and which I had
format ; he desires his complements to your papa, and
acquaints him he had v&rote to him by Mr. Russel, and
would have wrote now, but hopes he will txcufe him,
as he is obliged to attend the boird of police that hag
not met for some time ptfl, and what little time he hag
to spare has been employed in writing public letters.
He feels much pain at times from his disorder, sv#
efpeciilly after iitting long at writing.
Mr- Irving has been exceeding ill but is now better
Its just reported that col. frown of Yorkfh re is t^ 1
by the American militia ; lie was going to Gavan: ,
a gun boat inland with 60 men on board.
Miss Wells,
Salisbury Court, Fleet street.
* This gentlemen was formerly lieutenant-gov .>.%r
under the crown, has lately retu ned from Er.g^~^
with great cond<fention officiates as one of t ..>oar^
of police, under the infamous Balfour, with his form
er coinmiffion in his pocket.
BOSTO N, November 3.
SCAMMELL is DE ID.
W'HEN the good m^n, the just tN? generous ^ntf
the brave, and one whe hath ^om a sense of
dut>, founded in the rtfiii&ions v \ v itunas and enligh
tened minn, and in defence of his country's freedom,
faced death in all its forms, i< fuddeniy fuatched from
the feenea of this life, the cyi rof liberty weeps a m^tun
fr'h™"° "' "' he^rt of virtue swells with a rending
In the hut siege of York Town, fe'l, that cetera,
pithed fohte , and beloved citizen, Alexander SCAM-
M2LL, e% colonel of ihe firft battalion of the New-
Hampshire lin%—-H< was born at Mendon, in the state
0! MaffauhuiettS} and educated at Harvard College—
where at iJI times he had the approbation, and ap
plause of the governors, and the aniverfal esteem of
his fdlow-fluoents—w,en alter his education was com
pleated, he was introduced to the world.—such was
the foftnefs of his m oners, and the erfe of hit address,
that all persons of pUhenefs and fentiineut, to whom
he F% introduced, coveted nothing mere than hi# in
timate acquaintance. So sincere was he in his friend
firp, that tbofe to wbem he prof-ffed it, enjoyed him
with the molt unreserved confidence—he breathed th<
sentiments of civil liberty at so early a period of hig
lite, that it might be easily forefeen, he was peculiar
ly formed lor the most important and honourable pur
poies.—He took an early %nd decident part in his coun
try's cauk, and readily flew to her aid, cn the firft:
commencement of koftititus—he served a^ brigade ma
jor to general Sullivan, and afterwards as aid to ih#
lame general, and to general Lee—and w^s afterwards
appointed a colonel in the N w Hampfliire line; but
that place not giving fufficirnt scope to his extraordi
nary abilities, he was made adjutant general of the A
nxncco army, and thereby becoming one of general
Washington's family, he was so h ppy as to obtain
the approbation of the greatest charaaei now in the
world ; he had the general's entire confidence, and
was highly honoured uy being ranked among his pecu
-1.4; friends; a filiation at the fame time coveted, and!
envied by tome of the greatest char&&ers in Europe
and America ; —with this birth he became d ffztiefied,
because it often excused him in time cf action from
thole dangers to which others were expofed,—he there
fore prompted by a peculiar gei©ofity of fentirrunt, si
gain j<i.jed hi^ battalion; and in the late expedition,
was honoured with the command cf the light infan
'% —'ut early in th* firge, as he was reconnoitering
the enemy's petition, he received a foot, which put am
end w his ulehil and well improved li a.
'2 h u.h no bust or fculpterd stone, (hall dafn Iris
memory on the traveller's curious mind ; his patriot
virtues, (hall live in the mammy of his grateful coun
try, while freedom dwtl s on earth, and his diftinguiOr
cd char^a, r (hall fornrih the hiftoy of ths glorious
war with many a brilliant page ; our independence (hall
often point to all his many wound;, and be the lasting
monument of all his fame.
e^^^^^^w
Philadelphia, No^mbep 29, 1781.
ro-MORRO %
The 30th of November, zt Ten c'Cb.ck ; n the Mornings
WILL BE SOLD,
On Cuthbert's Wharf, the next to Willing and Morris's.
Wharf.
A large and very general Assort
ment of SHIP CHANDLERS, a quantity of Paints,
Iheathing xu4 other Nails, Mwqurts and CucUD^s, Cop
per Kettles, Copper and Tin in time's, Carpenters,
Bl ;ckm:ike:s and Blacksmiths Tools, cannon Shot of
various fiz s, iron-bound Water-caffes, a large Scale
andW^gms, Tar and Turpentine, a large quantity of
wrought lion,
JOHN BAYARD, Au^ioncer.