The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-05-05 00:00:00, page 2

are embarked on b,ard transports, now lying in Leith
'roads, and are expected to fail on Monday for the
Nore, under convoy of rhe Leith armed ship. For
what fei vice these troops are intended, is not known,
W A RSA W, December 6.
N°T Vi ITHSTANDING the bad weather, the Ruf
fian troops in different parts of the kingdom are
in motion to march out of it ; they have already quit
ted Thorn, and some regiments of these troops will
pass tie Viflula here next wtk.
December 28. It is fdd the King of Prussia has or
dered 24,000 of his belt troops to march towards Sile
Ga, which occasions many conjectures; probably he
has the maxim in his mind, Si vis pacem para bellum.
Leghorn, Dec. 13. It is reported, that not only the
Ruffian squadron in this port, but five other men of
war and 3 frigates of that nation, will fhor ly fail to the
Archipelago, if the diff rences between that court and
the Forte are net faded.
LONDO N.
Dec. 26. Yefierday aquanrity of baggage belonging
to # the drafted soldiers out of the guards, was shipped
on board transports in the river for America.
Dec. 30. The royal manifefto was not merely found
ed on the difcoverits made by the capture of Mr. Lau
rens's papers, nor on the intrigues of Van Berchel and
his American associates. Government hadTound that
te States refufed joining the armed neutrality, in
hop's of drawing RufGxandSweden to guarantee their
possession-, both foreign and domeflic; which those
powers at firfl hesitated to comply with, but had not
given an absolute refufal ; in this critical juncture, a
declaration on the part of England became neceff^ry,
by which means our court avoid drawing the powers
of Russia and Sweden on them, for commencing hos
tilities against their intended allies; and the States have
also loft the opportunity of joining the armed neutra
lity, which r, in itfelf, become almost inoffenfive,
Denmark having, in the fame interval, entered into
a treaty with England.
Jan 2. Orders are sent to the commissioners of the
ditferent'dock-yards, for the artificers to work double
tides, for compleating feverai men of war for imme
diate service.
Jan 4. This morning part of the baggage of fir
Joseph Y<rke arrived in town, and he is expelled on
Sunday next.
Extract of a letter from the Hague, December 29.
“ The public begin in a fmalldgree to recover from
their furprize, occasioned by the sudden departure of
the English Ambassador; and the best wishers to this
country hope that still something will occur to prevent
any further rupture between these Provinces and Eng
land, particularly as we hear the conclusion of the
king of Great Britain's manifefto seems to leave an
opening for any reasonable propositions on the part of
these States In the mean time many persons among
those of consequence to these Provinces are very much
for a war with the Englifli : towards the supporting of
which sentiments the Fren h have done all they could,
as it is very evident they have long been endeavouring
to foment a quarrel between theßepublic and England.
Yesterday there was a brilliant company at the Stadt
holder's court; and from the good humour which pre
vailed, m ? ny people drew favourable conclusions as
to the present Gate o' affairs. We anxiously wait for
the arrival of the English letters of the 23d, which will
bring the king's manifefto, relative to which all that
we know at present is only from report."
The following Articles of London News are taken
from Eivington's Royal Gazette of April 25th.
They were extruded from B-idfh Prints, dated Janu
ary 24, and February 2, brought by Vessels lately
arrived at New York from England.
Admiral Darby left London to take the command of
the grand fleet, deflmed for Gibraltar, and to convoy
the Bast India trade. Captain Sutton, of theTfr was
tried for not doing his utmofl to take a Dutch man of
war; he pleaded a want of sixty hands of his comple
ment: Toe sentence of the Court was only a severe
reprimand.
The naval force of the Dutch in the East Indies, is
Do more than one ship of 70 guns, one ot 60, and one
of §•, on account of the States ; one of 60, three of
40, and fever I country built grabs from 12 to 20
guns on account of the Company.
The Blenheim and Neptune of 90 guns each, Prince
of Wales, Hero, Elizabeth and Mignifioent, rol be
ready to put in commission by the latter end of March.
Commod re Johnson, with an auxiliary squadron,
is to attend the thirty four line of battle fitips under
Admiral Darby,in order to assist as may be found ex
pedient.
A French squadron of nine fail of the line, and se
venty transports, departed from Brest for the Weft-
Indies the beginning of January.
The number of East India ships to be sent abroad in
the current year, is in all twenty-five fail.
On the sth of February, Lord George Gordon's
trial, on an indictment for high treason, came 00 be
fore the Earl of Mansfield, the Justices Willes, Afhurfl
and Buller, when the jury after an absence of three
quarters of an hour, pronounced his Lordship not
guilty ; after which Lord George addressed the Jury in
the following words:
" Gentlemen of the Ju r y,
“ You have done perfectly right in the verdiCt you
have given lam not the person I was charged to be.
I declare to God that I am as nnocent as any ofyou,
and never designed any thing of treason against my
King or country. Gentlemen, it has been a wicked
prosecution -—- —
His Lordfllip va : interrupted by the Jury, who
Cried out " Have done my Lord; it wasa nice point."
Lord George concluded:
“ Gentlemen, I beg your pardon; excuse my
warmth, I heartily thank you, and God bless you."
His Lordfnip at near fix o'clock in the morning
went from the Hall, attended by his brothers, the
Duke of Gordon, and Lord William Gordon.
" Five of the enemy's ships have ran up to Potow
mack, nd anchored-oppofiie Hoe's ferry. They land
ed some m p n in Maryland, who did considerable da
mage to the inhabitants. Last evening they handed a
party at Hoe's houses, and burnt them down. The
militia of those counties, and a number of gentlemen
volunteers are collecting, in order to oppose the pro
gress of the enemy."
Extract of a letter from Boyd's Hole, Potonlack
river, dated April 10.
" The enemy's fleet of ten fail, 2 of 24 guns, 2 of
to guns, and 6 transports and tenders, are gone up
to Alexandria ; they have burnt and destroyed num
bers of houses, and much property on both sides of
the river, particularly on the Maryland fllore."
Extract of a letter from Belvidera, dated the 17th inst.
“ The ships under Graves, got up to Alexandria
last Tuefdiy, but did not attack the battery opposite,
nor did the people on shore choose to commence hos
tilities, knowing that they' were too weak to with-
Gand the force of the enemy. They landed two or
three times on the Maryland fide, and met with a spi
rited opposition. The fleet have fallen down, and are
now as low as Fotowmack Point, almost opposite to
Boyd's Hole."
Extract of a letter from- Williamsburg, dated April 19,
6 o'clock.
“ I am just informed by an officer from Burwell's
Ferry, that there re opposite that place, nine flat bot
tomed boats fully manned, two armed ships, a brig, a
schooner, and more in fight."
BALTIMORE, April 24.
When the continental detachment under the com
mand of major-general the marquis de la Fayette,
went from Annapolis to the head of Elk, the rear was
brought up at a considerable distance from the main
body, by two armed vessels. This circumfiance indu
ced two men on Ihore to mifiake the armed ships for
British ; in consequence of which they came on board
of that one where the marquis was, and informed him
that they belonged to the company who furnifhed the
king's troops with provisions; adding, that a '.loop was
just ready, with supplies, in Gunpowder-Creek, and
that they would serve as pilots to destroy rebel pro
perty, and take off some leaders. Upon this, major
Macpherfon was difpatebed in a barge, who, after a
tedious passage, and narrowly escaping with his life,
arrived on Ihore, where he undeceived his guides, and
t3ok up a number of the gang, whose names he had
obtained from their confederates. One of these fel
lows, we learn, has b en hanged as a spy, the other
fllot in attempting to make bis escape, and a number
of names given up to the civil authority, from whom
it is hoped some capital information may be obtain
ed.
The late.l accounts from North-Carolina mention,
that lord Cornwallis, and his army, had reached Wil
mington, on Capefear River, about 30 miles from the
fed, and that general Greene and his forces, were on
their way towards Camden, and other British posts, in
South Carolina.
Extrad of a letter from Annapolis, dated yesterday.
“ The brig Alexandria, belonging to Messrs. Hooe
and Harrifons, is arrived ia'e at Leeds, up Rappahan
nock, loaded with a great variety of dry goods. She
left Cadiz the zid of February. No French fleet t ; ere.
The Spaniards, with 30 ships of war, were before Gib
raltar. The Dutch had aftually declared war against
Great-Britain."
BOSTO N, April 12 .
By the last accounts, the garrison of Gibralter was
so ftraightned for provisions, that afheep was fold there
for 50 guineas, and a fowl for 10.
N E W-Y O R K, April 21.
Lift Thursday was conduced into or harbour, the
Confederacy, a frigate carrying 28 french twelve and
8 fix pounders; it is laid her keel was originally laid
out for a ship of 64 cannon ; the was taken on Satur
day lift, off the Capes of Delaware, by one of his
Majefiy's fllips of war.
Sir Joseph Yorke arrived in London on the 4th of
Janua y.
April 25. We are informed the ship Virginia, for
merly the Aurora, is arrived at the Hook : (he left
England on the 14th of March, is copper sheathed,
fails well, and become a vessel o' very ref peCtable force;
she is the property of Messrs. <hedden and Goo rich.
Bartlet Goodrich, Esq; is a paGenger on beard this
ship ; file was (poke with on Sunday evening, in atti
tude 39, 46. and in sixty four fathom soundings.
By accounts from RhodeTfland we are informed,
that the French ships of war were all ready for sea,
and their transports lying at single anchor, outside of
the men of war, but their troops were not embarked.
The Romulus having received great damage from the
fire of his Majesty's ship London, was hove down to
undergo a repair.
Philadelphia, May 5.
Monday last arrived here His Mos lCzriftian Ma
jesty's frigate dhe ermoine, commanded by the
chevalier de a Touche.
Captain Auder, in the schooner letter of marque
Resource, belonging to Baltimore, has taken a brig,
mounting 4 carriage guns, having on board 85 pun
cheons and 13 barrels of rum, and 25 hogsheads of
sugar, and sent her into Lewis Town creek. She is
called the Endeavour, and from Jamaica, bound to
Charles- Lown.
It is said, that Willismfburg, in Virginia, (and not
Alexandria, as mentioned by mistake in our las lpa
per,) is in possession of a detachment of the enemy's
forces in Cneffape^ke.
Among the vessels which arrived here the end of
last week and beginning of this, came in the Merlin
sloop, captain Hill, from Hispaniola. In Delaware
R IC HMON D, April 21.
Extraß of a letter from Port Royal, dated April 7,
1781.
bay captain Hill retook a sloop, which was origin
ally laden with oats and flaxfe.d at Southampton, in
Virginia, and bound to this port, but was taken by
a refugee barge in the bay, and two men put on board
as prize mafter c , who were fleering, for New York,
when captain Hitbcame across them, and thought
proper to alter.their course, and.occordingly brought
them up to town with the prize, which arrived with
the Merlin on Monday last. About three miles be
low Reedy Bland, captain Kill difeoyered the above
mentioned barge, and fired feverai that at her ; but
file escaped, by running into water which was to shal
low for the Merlin to venture into. She has 22 oars,
and mounts one swivel with a musket for each man.
The following is communicated by a correspondent at
Greenwich, in New-Jersey, April 29, 1781.
" The infamous Levin Turner, commanding the
armed barge Trimmer, having for feverai days been
flmiking about in creeks down the Delaware, and
picking up defencelefs vessels - in the bay, collected fe
verai of his prizes together in the month of Cohanfey,
which being difeovered by the militia on shore, a
small party under the command of major Ewing, on
Tuesday the 24th inst. fell down the Coh^nfey, and
difeovering by scouts that the barge was absent, in
pursuit of another vessel, boarded and brought ,afe to
Greenwich, two fhallops, loaded with lumber, the
Greenwich packet, and a fmill schooner with oysters;
another small sloop, said to be from Sinepirxent, la
den with oats, &c. lay so far out, that the major did
not think it prudent to attempt a re capture, as his
party was so small, but thought best to secure what
had so fortunately fallen into his hands ; the vessels
recaptured were delivered to the ; r refpeftive original
owners, who made the militia a hanofome gratuity
for their spirited behaviour."
The lad and mod authentic advices from Charles-
Town, in South Carolina fay, that the greatest difcon~
tents have for some time pad prevailed among the
foreign mercenaries employed in the garrison of that
place ; jealousies having arisen from this treatment by
the British commandant, and from other (said to be
national) causes § insomuch that feverai soldiers of the
two nations have, in the course of their difagreemenis,
wounded each oth r, and the Hessian officers frequent
ly pass the British in the Greets, without taking the
lead notice of them ; and a German officer of diflinc
tion has for some time been confined, for the freedom
with which he expressed himfelf concerning the pre
sent war, as his sentiments were most favourable to
the Americans ; that feverai of them have been heard
to fay privately, that in case of an attack on the town
by any part of the American army, they were deter
min d, not only to withhold their assistance in its de
fence, but to submit, or aid as much as in their pow
er, in its conquest ; and that they did not design to
leave this country, in case of a peace, but fettle in it:
That the tory inhabitants, who were embodied and
armed for the defence of the town, as militia, were
firongly fufpeded by the British commandant, as en
couraging the Hessians in these sentiments, and of con
sequence were disarmed, which had exceedingly cha
grined them: That, in addition to the causes already
mentioned, there is another,which has not a little con
tributed to these murmurings, which is the glaring
partiality of quartering the troops, the foreigners be
ing put into the smallest and most uncomfortable
houses, while the British were placed in the best and
most elegant in the town. Confrquences very alarm
ing are said to be expected, from these diffentions, by
our enemies in that quarter ; and' we may reafonabl,
conclude, that it mu ft considerably w aken their force
in the garrison, which confined of about 800 Hessians
and 300 British, under lieutenant colonel Balfour,
commandant of the town.
On the 26th of March a handbill was published in
Charles-Town, giving a short account of the adion
on the 16th of that month at Guilford court house,
between general Greene and lord Cornwallis; in which
the enemy claim the victory, but acknowledge the
lots of lieutenant colonel Stuart and captain Good
rich, of the guards; lieutenant O'Harra, of the royal
artillery ; lieutenant Robinson, of the 23d regiment ;
ensign Talbot, of the 33d; and ensign Grant, of the
71st, all killed ; captain Schutz, of the guards, mor
tally wounded. General O'Harra and colonels VVebfier
and Tarleton, wounded. Of trie loss of private men
no mention is made. 71 gentleman from Charles Town
inform us, that general O'Harra has since died of his
wounds.
On Saturday las ideparted this life, in the 33d year
of his age, Benjamin Flower, efauire, colonel of a
regiment of artificers, and commissary general of mi
litary Gores. His remains, being affectionately borne
by his brother officers of artillery, and attended with
a considerable number of refpe&able citizens, were
interred on Monday evening iu Chrifi-Church bury
ing ground. It wou'd be injuftire to the memory of
the deceased, and wounding to the feelings of those
who knew him, to omit observing that this gentleman
was among the sirs l of America's sons who flopped
forth for the support of her liberties. His ardent zeal
and tried integrity in her cause never abated: In her
service he contrasted the disease to which he fell a vic
tim. He bore his furrings with amazing fortitude;
and agreeable to tie genius of that divine religion he
profeffed, his pat ence and reflation increased with
his pain, till at length he went off triumphantly with,
the hcroifmofa Chriftran Soldier.
Tee following intercepted letter is published in the
New-York Mercery extraordinary, of April 19.
S I R, Amflerdam, December 28, 1780.
" The Dutch fay the Englilh are aDing the part of
the Sailor, who, having quarrelled with three others
as flout as himfelf, and got his bones broke, and his
eyes beat out in the (quibble, (hall engage four m< re
to fight him at the fame time, that he might have an
opportunity to make it up with all seven with honour.
If he Englifli are not situated by the fame blind
and vindictive padicns, which have governed them
for so many years, it is impossible to fee through their
policy. I think i, impossible they (hoidd be igno
rant of the articles of confederation of the neutral
powers: These articles, as Jam informs!, warrior