The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1783-05-22 00:00:00, page 2

March tg. It is to be feared, fays a correspondent,
that the diffracted slate in which the government of
this country how flauds, will be the means of prevent
ing a flop being put to the abuses that have crept
into it. Some efforts for a reform have been attempt
ed; how far the next in administration may adhere
to this object we know not; should they do it, no
ruing would give more dignity to the country than
the eflablifhment of proper house holds and tables to
the most oflenfible offices of the state. For as long as
the coniWutioH of this country remains in its prefect
form (though the adive p^rts of it are filled with
many able mid ingenious then) it is not likely any ad
miniftratibn can be very durable: on which account
let perfo s, conversant in public affairs, recollect how
often a chancellor of the exchequer, or a firfl lord of
the admiralty, has been difireffed by removing his
lurni'ure baci<w : rds and forwards in a short space
of time, and even heftated to do it, least, while the
cart was unloading, it might be ordered away, to make
room for that of his (ucceffor. If this plan is serious
ly attended to, there is no doubt but some of those
gentlemen who have undertaken a reform, will be a
ble 'to model it into an oeconomical form, that will af
ford much comfort to individuals, and splendor to the
state. English hospitality is almost a proverb. Let it
then appear mongf lthe leaders of the people, and at
those tables (without hurting individuals by the ex
pence) where foreign ministers, members of both houses
of parliament, &C. muff be entertained. Besides this
it would be a mod material advantage to persons flep
piog into these places, as the finding every thing ne
cefary provided for them, their minds would be free
and at liberty to enter (unembarrassed) upon business,
the moment they approached the threshold of office.
Und r such a regulation the wheel of government would
always be the fame, except when turned by men of
various complexions.
The offices this eftaHifhment immediately applies to,
are the two secretaries of state, firfl lord of the trea
fry, chancellor of the exchequer, firft lord of the ad
miralty, and a commander in chief (when one is ap
pointed.
Such high stations being thus accommodated, tho'
the present (alaries would be lessened, the dignity and
comfort of these situations would be encreafed and
more profitable, as those only who have experienced
them, can be sensible of the trouble and expence of
fudJen and frequent lemovals.
The public can receive no injury from such efla
b'ifhment, as the expence thereof would be ffxed to a
certain sum, and laid before parliament annually.
By this means a convenient and ungrudged hospi
tality would accompany the possessors of high honours,
and the dignity of the place would remain, be its mas
ter ever so often changed.
March 17. A board of enquiry wason Saturday last
ordered to fit toinveftigate the condua of the honorable
major Stanhope, in surrendering the island of Tobago,
of which, at the time of its capitulation, he was the
commanding officer. This board is inflituted at the
particular and pr ffing interference of the major him
felf, who has long solicited in vain for a court martial
to enquire into, and decide upon his conduft; but this
he was unable to obtain, on account of the perempto
ry refufal on the part of Mr. Ferguson, the late go
vernor of the island, to deliver a lift of charges, or to
aft as his accuser.
" Sunday evening last our carnival was opened here
with a most magnificent fupoer, given by the duke
D'Aremberg, to twenty two ladies, and the fame num
ber of gentlemen, who all appeared in uniform dresses,
charafleriLd as Incas, or the Children of the Sun. Af
ter supper they repaired in order to the public theatre,
there an impatient, and clamorous audience, in all
masques, filled every corner of the house. When the
curtain drew up, the children marched, to a solemn
march, round an altar on the flage, on which they
were to facrifice ; during which time, the light of that
God the Incas worship bgin to appear above the ho
rifoo, and when it (hone out in full splendor, the chil
dren bowed before it with reverential awe, at which
inflant a ray of celeflial fire darted from the fun, and
kindled the incense on the earthly altar. The two high
pritfts and priestesses were most magnificently adorned
with jewels, so formed, as to charaHerife their func
tions ; in which the dutchefs D'Aremberg, and the ho
norable Mr. Clifford, made a most splendid appearance.
In this elegant group appeared several English as well
as native ladies; and among the number of my fair
countrywomen I had the pleasure of perceiving Mrs.
O—y H-r, whole peculiar beauty and elegance was
Ft off with all the advantages a fancy dress could
give.
" The little world on this day imitating the great,
the flreets were over run with all the boys, girls, w—s,
and rogues, in masquerade. It is to be hoped, how
ever, the masques are now pulled off the faces of most
of them, as well as of you patriots and k 's friends,
or there is much reason to fear neither the fun of Incas,
nor that of Britain, will never warm you again, as it
did ten years ago."
Extract of a letter from Edinburgh, March 1.
" We hear from Sterling, that the merchant com
pany there, having taken under their confederation the
intimation made by his majesty's ministers of bring
ing into parliament a bill for equalizing the represen
tation of the people, and also the proceedings of the
Edinburgh merchant company on that fubjeft, unani
mously resolved thatit would tend to the interests of
the burghs in Scotland to have an alteration in the
mod- of election of their members of parliament, and
to concur with other burghs in making an application
to parliament for that purpose, and appointed a com
mittee to corre pond with the Edinburgh merchant
Company and other burghs on the fubjeH.''
March 19. An express arrived yesterday at the In.
d>a House, wh ch came over land from the East In
dies, with am acco nt of another engagement having
taken place on the 3d of September, between fir Ed
ward Hughes and monsieur Suffrein, the larer of
whom having been re enforced with a 74 and a 60 gun
(hip, braved the Engliffi in their ports, who came out,
Extract of a letter from Brussels, March 4.
March 21. There is a Scotchman now alive in the
county of Antrim, in Ireland, who was pressed into
the sea service in 1688, and was on board the ship
which broke the boom at the siege of Londonderry.
His age is 120 years, and he retains the perfect use of
all his faculties.
Extract of a letter from Pertfmouth, dated March 19.
" The tumults of this place are now at such a height
amongst the seamen, that alarms every body here.
They will do no duty for their officers, nor will any
of them go to sea in the men of war. Sir Thomas
has just now been under the necessity of fending the
expedition cutter to the Weft Indies, with orders for
admiral Pigot. God knows where these riotings will
end.
March 22 Yeflerda,, at a numerous and very re.
fpettable meeting of merchants and others, concern
ed in the American trade, held at the London tavern,
a committee was appointed to attend to the progress
of the American commercial bill, depending in the
house of commons. An address also to his majesty
was moved, produced, approved, left to be signed at
the London tavern, and ordered to be presented to his
majesty. The business of the meeting was conducted
with candour and ,propriety. Some of the principal
speakers on the occasion, were Mr. Sanfom, Mr. Barc
lay, Mr. Sharpe, and Mr. Hodgfon.
Very large entries outwards have lately been made
at the custom-house by Mr. Sharpe, the perfumer and
concave razor-maker, for France and America. So
much for the blessings of peace.
Extraß of a letter from Dublin, March 15.
'' It is with the utmost concern we have it again in
our power to observe, that while the legislature of
Great-Britain is, by a renunciation ad, relinquishing
its authority in this kingdom, in order that every fub
je& of jealousy and distrust may for ever be done a
way, a few interefled individuals in England have pow
er Sufficient so to misrepresent the relative situation of
this kingdom with Great Britain, at the court of Por
tugal, as to continue to obflruft the entry of our
woolen manufactures there; for, we learn by the last
letters from Oporto, that in the beginning of Februa
ry last, a large quantity of woolens were seized there,
by an order from court, and there is little hope but
they will be confiscated. Since, therefore, our king's
miniflers either cannot, or will not procure us a par
ticipation of the trade to Portugal, surely our parlia
ment, at their sirs l meeting, will not hesitate to refeind
the law made in 1780, that laid an enormous additional
duty on the wines of France and Spain, for the foleand
avowed purpose of favouring Portugal."
Extract of a letter from Paris, March 9.
“ The court-martial held at Brest having termi
nated the information against the captains of the Jason
and the Caton, taken by a detachment of Rodney's
fleet a few days after the fatal action of the 12th of
April, the sentence has been sent to court. It is prov
ed, that M. de Fremcn, captain of the Caton, sur
rendered only because he thought it needless to de
fend himfelf against seven ships; and that after hav
ing addressed a speech to his men, in which he remind
ed them of the manner in which he had hitherto con
dueled himfelf, he thought his courage would not be
called in question, and that it was needless to give a
vain proof of it. Nevertheless, the king, willing to
keep up the naval discipline, has declared to his coun
cil, that he would have the ordinances rigorously en
forced. In consequence, we learn that this captain
has been condemned to twenty years imprisonment,
not for having surrendered, which he could not avoid,
but for not having endeavoured to defend himfelf, and
save the honor of the flag. The captain of the Jason,
who was taken only after a long refinance, and by a'
superior force, has been admonished, because that, in
stead of striking to the enemy, he could have run on
shore, and have saved his crew. These two examples
of severity seem to announce how jealous his majesty
Is, that his officers should maintain the honor of the
nation, and how ftri&ly they will be examined, who
are accused of not having done their duty in the Weft
Indies. The court-martial will fit on that obje& very
soon. M. de Fremon will be removed to the cattle of
Ham, in Picardy.
March 26. There are now on the navy half-pay
lift 243 captains, 172 matters and commanders, and
910 lieutenants, who have been added to it since the
commencement of the war in 1776, exclusive of great
numbers who have been killed, or died, in that period.
March 27. The court of Madrid have net as yet
acknowledge d the independence of the United Statesof
America. The revolution in the nothern parts of the
American continent being an example to the southern
divisions, which gives thd Dons no small (hare of unea
siness.
A letter from Wittenburg fays, that troops are rail
ing there and in other parts of Germany, for the fer
when a very desperate aßion ensued, which terminated
as the others had done, without the loss of a ship on
either fide but both fleets were so terribly mauled,
that they were glad to get into port. The express
further informs, that commodore Bickerton, with 6
fail of the line, end some transports with troops, arriv
ed at Bombay the very day the action happened, and
that as soon as the soldiers were a little recovered from
the fatigue of the voyage, and the ships watered, he
would immediately fail to join fir Edward on the Co
rqmandel coast, but that it would be three weeks be
fore he should be compleatly ready for fca, both tie
sailors and soldiers being Very unhealthy, from the ve
ry/xtraordinary length of the passage.
The above express is said not to have been sent of
ficially from Madras, but from some of the governors
on the Malabar coast, to the India company.
It is reported, that after the engagement, the Eng
lish were making for Trincomale bay to refit, which
the French perceiving, and their Chips hot having (of
fered so much in their rigging as the English, they got
in there before them, and Rationed their fleet in such
a position, that the fort could not annoy them, nor fir
Edward Hughes think it prudent to attack them. It
is added, that, previous to the action, a few troops
brought there from Old France, by M. Buffy, had
been landed, as if with an intention to besiege the fort.
vice of the king of Proffitt, which makes it imaging
that a war is near at hand, as his Prussian majesty
filling his magazines and store-houses with all forts of
warlike (lores, but against what power he intends to
wage war is not known.
L^ft Wednesday 500 weight of the patent dried vege
tables were entered at the custom-house, for exporta
tion to Gibraltar. If vegetables, thus prepared, re
tain the nutritive and antiscorbutic qualities which they
have in their natural state, the invention will be one of
the most fortunate known in this country, as it will so
eff^ntially contribute to preserve the health, and pro
long the lives of our sailors and soldiers.
On Monday died at Shrewsbury, Mr. Roger Yeo
mans, printer and undertaker. He was supposed to
be one of the largest men in England, weighing near
forty flone. His coffin measured fix feet and a half in
length, three feet three inches over, and two feet four
inches in depth. Mr. Yeomans was in the 39th year
of his age, and till very lately was as active as most
men.
March 28. The India house dividens, to the tune
of one million and a half sterling, become due in the
course of five days; so that the immediate aid of par
liament feemsab olutely necessary to support the credit
of this great commercial company.
"'ce^'y °' an immediate arrangement of mi
ntßry grows every day more and mere preffing
the foreign ambassadors are desirous of bringing for
ward the commercial regulations which are to be made
in consequence of the peace, and by the delay of which
trade , s greatly impeded ; but there is at pre s ent nobo
dy who chufes tomtermeddle in matters when there is
so much responsibility.
in I erhap V he a " a J: ? f P arliam ^t do not furnifh an
^^ ab ! ^ bee ™ committed and recom
mitted so often, as the bill for ope Di ng trade and inter
th^ "^ Ame ^ Ca ; and no ^ithftanding all the care
that has been taken every member still complains that
it is very imperted, and in all likelihood will do much
mrfchief.
A letter from Vienna f ays , that notwithflanding there
is no probability of a war with the Turks, yet the
emperor is making the fame preparations if there was,
^^"^ tbat he was apprehensive of
being attacked by some other power. The f ame letter
fays, tnat the protestants have obtained leave to build
churches in part of the emperor's dominions, where
it is most convenient fo r them to reside.
HOUSE of COMMONS, March 28.
A ^ '°°" ?' "° chancel lor of the exchequer entered
( " We underfl ^d) intimated to h ^
that some of the committee of American merchants
^ere waiting m one of the committee rooms above
flairs, and dehrous of communicating to him their sen
timents r efp e a lo g the measu r es moftpracticable, with
regard to the opening a trade between Great-Britain
and America. Mr. Pitt went up flairs for about twen
ty minutes, ana then came into the house again, when
the order of tip day for going into the further consi
deration of the report on the American trade bill be
ing, upon motion, read: l
The chancellor of the exchequer rose and said, that
the American merchants of the city of London had
called a meeting upon the fubjed of the bill in quefti.
on, for the purpose of comparing opinions, and ma
turing and improving their ideas of what did and of
what did not appear to them necessary so be done for
the purpose of opening a trade between Great. Britain
a °! America. That in order to give them time to di
gest their sentiments on this important objed he had
moved on Wednesday laft,that the further c^fid^
on of the report of the committee of the house (to whose
difeuffion and deliberation the bill bad been fubmit
^^^ adjourned till that day. The merchants al
luded to had precisely declared what their sentiments
upon the business were; but having only just done so,
he trusted the house would fee the propriety of flill
further deferring the consideration of the bill till Mon
day, in order roafford time for the sentiments of the
merchants to be weighed b-fore they were adopted-
The further consideration was, in c.onfequence, ad
journed to Monday, and the house rose immediately.
American News.
T R E NT ON, May 14.
Somerset, April 28, 1783.
The field officers of this county having fixed upon
Saturday the 26th inst. for the celebration of peace,
the two battalions ot militia, the artillery and troop
of horse, assembled at 10 o'clock in the morning, a
greeably to orders, at Mount Pleasant, near Van
Veghter's bridge. His excellency the governor, a
great numbr of gent'emen from this and the neigh
bouring counties, and a splendid assembly of ladies, at
tended on the joyful occasion. On the summit of the
hill an elegant and fpaci us bower had been previous
ly built, under the direction of captain Van Aarfdalen,
whose taste and ingenuity, displayed through the whole
of this romantick firuaure, gaiued universal applause.
Before the center of the bower the American flag was
splendidly displayed. The troops were sirs lreviewed
by his excellency the governor, who was pleased to
express great fatisfadion with their martial appear
ance. The proclamation, declaring a cessation of hos
tilities, was then read in Front of the line, and was
succeeded by loud acclamations, and a difeharge of
thirteen rounds of artillery'and musketry, concluding
with a well executed running fire. The troops were
next formed in a circle about the flag flaff, and an ex
cellent sermon, adapted to the occasion, was preach
ed by the reverend Mr. Freyligh. After Divine ser
vice tiie quartermasters issued to the troops a plenti
ful Supply of liquor which had been provided for them.
His excellency the governor, the officers of the militia,
and a great number of other gentlemen, fat down to a
cold collation in the bower ; and the remainder of the