The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1783-03-15 00:00:00, page 2

B R E S T, December 10.
The day before yesterday the fleet, confining of
nine (hips of the line, 6 (hips of 74 guns and three of
64 guns, with 6 frigates and cutters, and 31 trans
ports, under convoy, failed with a frefh gale at N. 6.
The troops embarked, amount to 7500 men. The
wind continues fair, though it seems to veer towards
S. E. yet we hope they will g t such an offing as to
keep at sea and continue their voyage. Tne marquis
de la Fayette is on board the Censor.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 3d.
The divan has declared, with refpe& to the affais
cf Crimea, that as this country has been declared in
dependent, the Tartars have a right to dtpofe and
chufe their fvvereigns, without the intervention of fo
reign powers. They are, besides, doing all they can
to prevent a rupture.
W ARSA W, December 4.
The count and countess of the north, flayed a day
only at Riga, pursuing their journey for Peterfburgh,
the 26th of lad month.
Some Greek merchants, just come from Oezahow,
bring the news, that a refpe&able body of Ruffian
troops, laid to be 40,000, had re-established the fu
gitive khan in his dignity, but these travellers are
not acquainted with the particulars of what has pass
ed in Crimea.
VIENN A, December 4.
The journey which the emperor intended into Italy,
is, we are assured, laid aside for important reasons.
There has appeared an ordinancefor regulating the
trade and navigation of the low countries, ft direßs
that all (hips belonging to the people of that country,
within the dominion of the emperor, beregiflered at
Oflend, Bruges or Newport; and all covering the
Flipping of flrangers, under the flag of his imperial
majefly, is forbidden under very severe penalties.
HAGU E, December 22.
The baron de de Thuleymeyn, envoy extraordi
nary of the king of Prussia, has demanded of the
Rates general, that flrift search be made after, and
Fvrher AHvres by tie Washington Pac
ker, Captain Barney, from I'Grient.
Foreign Intelligence.
P A R I S, December &.
YESTERDAY it was pretended that peace has ben
signed the(ethr e days. Notwituftandingthis ru
mour, MrGerard de R&yueval is not yet return
ed from London; nothing is determined yet. Never
thel-b, meffrs FH%nerbert, Oswald, Strachey and
Robert, continue tr e topographical arrangement of the
treaty. Several perlons well inform'd allure, that
the conclusion of a p°ace is so near, that the duke of
Richmond is exped+d at the Hotel d'Orleans, in St.
Anne's- street.
Ten thousand tents are making in the suburb of St.
Anthony ; the wuole number are to be delivered in
about the end of the winter.
Dec. to. The king by an edift, to take place from
the firfl inflant, has forbidden all ransoming of prizes
at sea, made by hb fubj^fts in private Chips of war.
Dec. tg. The king by an edift of iheioth of this
month, has created ten millions of annuities, redeema
ble in 14 years.
December 18.
For eight d o ys past the general attention here has
been fixed upon the determination which Roland
will t ke as to peace , and the return of couriers from
London has been expected very impatiently. The
day before yefterd^y, at ten in the evening, one ar
rived to Mr Oswald. The dispatches wh ch he brought
concerned, undoubtedly the bufin-fs only of this ne
gociatoto, not the general treaty of peace. Y^fterday
at half an hour past four in the afternoon, two other
couriers were received, one by the count -de Ver
gennes, another by Mr. Fitztierbert. Mr. de Ver
gennes went (freight to the king, and as the council
of Bate were to fit afterwards, as usual, they could
not know till late at Verfaides, whether the work of
peace draws to a point. Were we to judge from the
fileoce of Mr. Fitzh^rbert, and by what is passing
in parliament, the cabinet of St. James's cannot be
now in a dtfpofition as pacific as it was at the o
pening of these negotiations; and lord Shelburne
must be greatly embarrassed, since the two parties,
between which he withes to maintain a middle path,
seem both ready to censure him, let him take what
ever course he may. Be it peace, or be it war, he
rifques (not his popularity, for he never had any)
but his place io the ministry. It is even asserted
here, that however the British flatefmen may seem
united in parliament, there are two parties at St.
James's; that the king, lord Shelburne and lord
Grantham, had accepted our proposals, according
to which England was to cede Gibraltar, and to re
ceive back all our conquers in the Antilles, together
with Guadaloupe, in addition. But the duke of
Richmond, lord Keppel and Mr. Townfhend, persist
ed to demand Porto-Rico. At least it is certain, that
lord Shelburne, to shut every mouth, for fifteen days
pad, has tried to obtain better conditions than thole
with which he at firft appeared to be fatisfied ; and
besides Guadaloupe, has asked that St. Lucia be ceded,
and that England be assured of Trincomale, in the
illand of Ceylon ; but if he defifl not from these ex
orbitant pretensions, we (hall with pleasure, lee the
nex' campaign open, rather than acquiesce.
Nov. 28. It has been imagined till to-day, that the
marquis de la Fayette was going directly to America
to his friend general Washington; however, it is now
thought that the court refeives to the marquis the
lionor of signing, conjointly with Dr. Franklin, the
independence of America after it is acknowledged by
Great-Britain. But the politics of this lafl power has
retarded the negociation by its uncertainty, therefore
it has been resolved to wait for the ultimatum of the
pacific disposition of his Britannic majesty.
L I S B O N, November 10.
The court has published an edifl, to acknowledge
the flag of the united dates of America, and to give
free entrance into his port of their vessels.
Two ship, from America laden with corn, are arrived
here and have been received with all possible civility.
They had touched at Cadiz, but have found a much
better market here.
BERLIN, November 23.
Ler pold Christian Woe ike, profeffed knight of the
order of St. John of Jerusalem, major of a regiment in
the king's f^rvice, after being concerned in divers ill
practices, had deferred, is condemned by a court
martial to be hanged in effigy ; to be degraded from
his standing in the order, and declared unworthy of
bearing the ensigns of it.
L O N D O N.
Dec. 3. Friday lad was tried in the court of com
mon pleas, lord Laughborough prefiding,the suits be
tween divers French seamen and captain Davis, of the
John, lately arrived from Jamaica.
ft was proved that the captain, desirous to compleat
his crew, went to the piece where the French prison
ers were confined, and offered them equal wages, as
to English seamen, if they wou'd go with him, and
promised further to get them dismissed for France,
upon arrivingat London. They agreed; but on their
arrival he refufed to pay them, and delivered them to
the office for prisoners of war; faying, that as they
were French prisoners they were not entitled to wages.
Upon this unrighteous refufal; Mr. Evans, a law
yer at London, who during the war has refeued divers
prisoners of war from oppression, procured a passport
forthwith for these men, and whilst the foit depended
advanced each 10 guineas, to carry them to France.
The trial lafled four hours, and ended in finding
the captain liable to pay to each of tnefe prisoners 30
guineas, being the middle price at which the Enghfh
Bailors were engaged by the run.
Yesterday count Reynevall, a French gentleman,
who arrived on Monday, from Paris, was introdu
ced ino the honfe of Peers to fee his ma jefty fir on the
throne whilst making his speech to both houses of par
liament.
Yefierday morning at ten o'clock, Mr. Strachey
arrived at Mr. Townihend's office, from Paris, hav
ing concluded the negociation as far as his commission
carried h m.
A letter from Magador, dated September 25, favs,
“ in order to suppress a popular hifurreaion in the
western highlands of the dominions of Morocco the
emperor had sent an army against the infurgems: but
the former have been routed, and the Morocco gene
ral, Hafchny Safiani, killed in the battle, which was
fought near Mequinez. On receiving this intelligence,
his imperial majesty resolved to march against his
revolted fubjeßs at the head of all his forces.''
Dec. 7. Yest r day some frefh dispatches were bro't
to Mr. Townshend's office from Mr. Fitzherbert at
Paris, which, it is said, gave great fa ifadion to his
majesty.
Extract of a letter from on board the Monarca, dated
Trincomale, June 15.
“ Having wrote to you very fully twice before by
two different conveyances, I only now inform you we
are fitting in this harbour 10 (hips of the line besides
frigates, &c. One of our cruisers, just come in, has
seen the French admiral go into Porto Noro, not be
ing able to reach Colombo with his (hatrerel flips,
great diligence is using to get away from here before
the conclusion of the month to intercept the enemy's
fleet; one of their (hips is certainly funk, we conjec
ture file is the 74 we were incremental in handling s o
very roughly. We have loft about 86 m^n finer ^e
left England; only 11, however, by the consequences
of war; climate has done the refl. The fquadroa in
general have been healthy since our arrival ou this
coast."
COPENHAGEN, Nov. 30.
The council of commerce of this city, has sent a cir
cular letter to the Danish consuls. This letter is of
26th Oil Bjer: and is in fubdance, that all Danish
sh ps which mail be sent from a Danish to a foreign port,
may proceed to the foreign isles and colonies in Ameri
ca, without touching at St. Thomas or St. John ;
and may return to Copenhagen Glu kftadt and Chrif-'
tianfund ; those already abroad and upon voyages be
gun may be dispensed from the obligations they are
under to return home, upon application.
exemplary punishment inflicted upon the author and
publishers of a libel on the august princess, his ncice,
princess of Orange. This is a piece circulated by
fle: Ith, and not fold by any regular book feller, and
perhaps the spreaders of it cannot be found. It is
entitled “ the true cause of the misfortunes of this
country, in a letter found on the road between Utrecht
and Amersfort". The memorial cf the Prussian mi
nisters has been sent in copies to the several Bates,
with the most earned recommendations to find out
and punjfh the author of this calumny ; and to the of
fices of the dihri& under the generality, with orders
to like eff a.
Tne judge cautioned the jury against Considering
too ftridly, the circumflances in which the plaintiff's
flood as enemies. He said they were to be looked on a.
men who had worked for the captain, and as such they
had a right to the wages agreed for.
De. 5. If any credit can be given to that barome
ter, the flocks, peace is not far diflant, as they ftil|
continue to rife. The uncertain state of things at this
crisis is very prejudicial to trade, as it entirely im.
pedes and flagnates all bufine s in the commercial
line. Tne Weftlndia fleet will not be able to fail from
Portsmouth so early as expelled.
Dec- 6. A complete fencible regiment, under the
command cf colonel Talbot, was reviewed in the
Phoenix park, near Dublin, on the 26th of last month.
Colonel Talbot has lately read his recantation from
the church of Rome, and served the empress of Ger
many last war.
The Ville de Paris is at length given up. In her
must have perilled at lead 1500 persons.
Dec. 12. Dispatches are now making up at the secre
tary of Rate's efre, for admiral Digby and fir Guy
Carleton at New-York, and the Sandwich packet is
detained at Falmouth, in order to receive them- the
provisional articles which are signed between us and
America, will likewise accompany them.
December 14. The nth Mr. Burke, in the house
of commons, called for some explanation of the pro
visional articles of peace, and especially that of the
independence of America : “ there is," said he, " three
opinions abroad on the great and important fubjeft 1
pretend not to decide for one more than another. The
firft opinion is, that the independence of America, in
any case ar upon any consi deration, is a real evil to
the nation. The second opinon ; this independence
ought not to be conceded without an equivalent, of
ose kind or other, at the price of peace. The third
opinion ; that the independence ought to be granted
without any consideration whatever; in order that the
acknowledgment of it, on the part of England, be
free end unbounded, f, as well as Mr. Fox, am of
thia last opinion. There is na one in the house who
doth not fee, that for five years p^ft it was cut of our
power to oppose the independence of America - and
before w e proceed to vote the subsidies which are ask
ed, I wish to know which of these opinions the provi
sional articles accord with.
Mr. Pitt role ^nd assured the house, that he confi.
dered the provisional treaty, as a total and irrevocable
giving up of their dep ndence on the mother country,
absolutely and unreservedly ; but that in speaking
thus, he only offered the dictates cf his own breast.
Dpon this Mr. Sheridan got up and (aid, that the
duke of Richmond had held to him quite a different
language, and had authorifed him to tell the house of
commons, “ that the independence of America, de
pended &iil upon the success of the treaties now on the
carpet with the other belligerent powers, and that we
mail, notwithhanding, find ourselves of this negocia
tion fail, in th^ fame circumflances, as to America, as
v+hen we began his buGnefs."
General Conway replied to Mr. Sheridan as follows :
“ Though I cave the honour to be of his majesty's
ministry, I do not tiilhk myfelf refponlble for the opi
nion of every member of the council, upon any point
approved by all in general. The basis of the treaty,
as ! unaerftand it, is the absolute and unlimitted in
dependence of America. Whatever may be built oil
this foundation, whatever materials be made use of,
whatever pl.n of policy may take place, this will ever
be, I repeat it, the basis of the treaty.
" I have constantly adhered to this; I (hall persist
in my opinion, 1 do not think, that I need any fub
terfuge or equivocation for to explain my condud."
Mr. Fox. Mr. Burke, commodore Johnftone, and
Mr. Courtney, spoke very humouraufly, and perhaps
but too truly, of the division, which prevailed among
the members of the cabinet. They agreed that the
prefen administration was a phenomenon and like the
fyflem of the universe, was composed of difeordant
particles, put of which unanimity was produced- and
they concluded, with praying the Almighty,' that
this heterogenous mixture plight be enabled to refeue
the nation from all the evils with which (he was
threatened.
They write from several parts of the north of Scot
land, that the distresses of the poor are so great, that
some families must have been greatly distressed, had
not the neighbouring gentlemen opened a fubferip
tion to raise a sum of money for purchasing corn
oatmeal and other necessaries of life, which are distri
buted amongst them, according to the number they
have in family.
Dec. 9. Mr. Burke in his comment on the king's
speech on Friday, said, that making his majefiy fall
on his knees, to deprecate the evils that might follow
the recognition of the independence of America, was
not only imputing the whole blame and responsibility
of the measure to parliament, but an indecent mockery
of all religion and morality. With regard to the last
words of the speech, " and I call for them," he said,
so arrogant an insult had not been put on that house
since the days of king Charles, when that monarch
presumptuously entered the doors, and threw himfelf
into the fp^aker's chair, to look for the five members.
The parliament was, by the conflitution, rendered
the fuperintendaot control! of ministers, but the king's
speech being evidently the speech of the minifler, the
latter, Mr. Burke declared, had totally reversed the or
der of the Bate, and talked to parliament as an inferior.
The comte de Vergennes, eldest son of monsieur de
Vergennes, the premier of France, is arrived at lord
Shelburne's houf- in XetkJey-fquare, to ^A as one of the
commissioners for peace on the part of that county.
He is a young man, only three and twenty, and thi;
occasion, important eg it is, is said to be his firft effa,
in politics. '
When re provifionary articles were signed at Paris
between England and America, the whole business wa"
tranfaßed at Franklin's hotel ; none but the commif.
doners of Great-Britain and America being present.
Dec. io. The mail for New-York, was detained at
the general poll office till last Friday morning, in order
to transmit to the inhabitants of that place, his maief
ty's speech, which will impart to the© very pleading
accounts. °°
Stock* have not kept up to the heigth to which they
rose 6* the firft rumours of peace. These are the rea-
The house then went into a committee of ways and
means. Captain Butt, of the navy, moved for a vote
of r 10,000 seamen. He observed, that last year the
house granted 100,coo, and that our navy was vast
ly increased five-. This was carried, but not with
out violent oopofition, which Mr. Pitt combatted
with the neceffit of (hewing our enemies, at the eve
of peace, an high idea of t e forces and resources of
England, in order to obtain an honourable and lad
ing peace.
According to public reports, government sent on
tne loth instant, to the India company, for its opini
on of the concession, demanded by France, in the
East Indies.