The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-08-15 00:00:00, page 2

'3, a Carte! arrived in ate beware, in /even week from Plymouth,
m^b ai6 American Prisoners on board, aue have received London
Papers to the i%tb of June, from aubicb ave have extruded the
following INTELLIGENCE, viz.
AL G ESIRA S, May 9 .
ON the 7th inflant some Spanish chebecks took three English
merchant ships of geo toffs burthen each, coming from
Gibraltar; their names are the Valiant, the Royal Briton, and
the Thomson.
Cadiz, May g. M. O'Dun, AmbafTadbr from France at Lis
bon, has spoken lo much in favour of the Americans, that the
Ministry of Portugal have at length resolved on an advantageous
arrangement for the navigation of the Thirteen United States;
but we are not yet well informed of all the articles. It is assured,
that one of them dtpulates, that all English ships, of larger force
than those of the Americans, shall not fail out of the Tagus in less
than 36 hours after the latter.
; Paris, fune 7. Mr. Grenville has received the full powers
which he wanted, to enter into a negotiation for a peace, upon
t : ' conditions that he offered before the battle of the 12th of
April. His full powers are dated the 20th, and Admiral Rod
ney's letters were dated the 17th. That Admiral, it is confirmed,
zonally fund on board the Ville de Paris, and the other ships
ymich he took, the whole train of artillery destined for the tak
ing of the island of famaica.
A report is circulated of feme advantage obtained by M, D'Or
* over Admiral Hughes in the Eaft-lpdics, but it wants further
com^mation.
by a Cooler arrived from Madrid we learn, that Don Cordova
hoisted fail the 23d of May, with 27 ships, and the diyifion of
Count de Guicfen. , ,
T^ ^eateft part of the natives of this kingdom seem to share
in the loss fufained by our fleet the 12th of April, and are for
ward to rep.il it; people of all ranks unite in the opening a sub
scription, which has already produced 100,000 livres, and will be
augmented to 100,000 crowns.
Edinburgh, June 11. The Clergy of Scotland have made ap
plication to the new Ministry to be exempted from paying the
duty on wind w lights. Tris tax they have not hitherto paid,
but the exemption has never been properly afeertained. His Ma
jesty s Minsters, wishing to conciliate the minds of all ranks in
England, Scotland and Ireland, so that, as Lord Shelburne em
phatically expreflWit, there may be but one heart and one hand
‘ in the three kingdoms, have with the greatest chearfulnefs agreed
to exempt the Clergy of Scotland from payment of the window
tax duty, and have given orders accordingly.
L'O N D 0 N.
funef The letters from Paris by the last mail fay, that the
difficulties which had arisen about a fortnight before in the ne
gotiation carrying on by Meffis Grenville and Oswald, had been
entirely removed by the good offices of Dr. Franklin; and now
there was a greater appearance of peace than ever; for if Great-
Britcin made no alterations in her proposals since her late success
in the Weft Indies, France would most readily agree to holding a
general Congiefs at Brunels, with a view to bring about a speedy
peace.'
On Friday a letter was received from Admiral Lord Vifeount
Howe. It Rates that the Dutch fleet, consisting of 13 fail of the
line, remain still in the Texel, and do not indicate the smallest
disposition for comingout. He continues to keep a constant look
out after them, and will preserve his position there till he receives
further direction.
Extras of a letter from Laufarne, May 18.
" You are not ignorant of the infuiredion which happened in
the Republic of Geneva. The following is some detail of that
unfortunate affair : ,
" Aprils, The natives and the reprefentants having Dized
the gates, put 15 of the Magiftiates under arrest, and established
a new government, which the Canton of Berne and the Court of
France have refufed to acknowledge.
" The 9th of the month the new government sent an express
to Berne, but their Excellencies returned the dispatches imme
diately, without opening them, and gave the messenger but an
hour to depart in. As he did not obey this direction, an archer
came to his tan, with direction for his instant departure, or to
follow him to prison.
" Friday the 10th, the two hundred were assembled at Berne,
from eight o'clock in the morning until eight in the evening,
when after long debates it was decided to command 6000 men to
be ready to march ; besides 2coo dragoons, chaffeurs, and amecef
fary train of artillery. They have written to Geneva to the Lyn
dies, to acquaint all those that belong to the garrison, and to their
fubjeds, that their Excellencies will relieve them from the oath
taken to the new government ; that they must quit the town, as
well as all other fubje&s of the Canton, domestics, Artizans. and
others.---They have communicated this news to the Ambaffabors
of France, and have offered to that Court to aft in concert with
her, to save Geneva from ruin.-—The King of Sardinia has
marched 4000 troops, and the King of France 6000.---I imagine
we shall depart next week. The Plenipotentiaries will hold their
Congress at Caronge, near Geneva. Mr. Le St. Pimon has been
named, on the part of France, and Count Marmora, formerly
Viceroy, on the part of Savoy. Those on the part of the Canton
have not yet been named. As soon as the whole of the troops
of France and Savoy are joined to those who are already at Verfoy
and Caronge, Geneva will be immediately inverted. Some ^y
that the Genoefe will receive a Baroraois garrison; others, that
they wih defend themselves to the last extremity.
" Lift of the French army against Geneva—The regiments of
Normandy, Nassau, Foix and Dauphine, the Royal Grenadiers
of Franche Comte, 350 Horse Chaffeurs, four Companies of
Caranoniers, half a company of Bombardiers, 40 miners, 20 pieces
of cannon, four mortars, two bomb Shells, besides other proper
ammunition; the whole conduced by 1300 horse.
“ Lift of the army of Savoy on their march since the 12th.---
Eight companies of grenadiers of the guards of Savoy, Piedmont
and Ofte; five companies of Fantaffins, Courtes, Grifons and
Marixes; one contingent of the legion attached to the Duchy of
Savoy ; and two squadrons of Piedmont."
Extract of a letter from Dublin, May 28.
" Yesterday his Grace the Duke of Portland, attended by Lord
Cbarlemont, went in slate to the House of Peers, to announce
the concurrence of the King of Ireland and the British Parliament
in the restoration and confirmation of our national rights, so stre
nuously supported by the combined powers of Inih valour and elo
quence. The carriage in which they went was met with in Dame
fireet by the manufacturers of the liberty, who, anxious to ex
press their strongest tribute of joy at a fight which opens the fair
eft profpeft of reaping the fruits of a free commerce and a free
conftitstion, attempted to unharness the horses, and convey his
Grace of Portland and Lord Charlemont to the Parliament House,
with the fame acclamations of triumph with which the Roman
people conduced their deliverers to the gates of the capital."
June 6. All the letters from prance and Spain agree in giving
an aftonilhing account of the preparations that are making by
both countries for the siege of Gibraltar. The Spaniards now de
spair of starving the garrison, and therefore are determined to
make a vigorous effort to take the place by regular approaches.
The Duke de Crillon is to command a combined army of 40,000
men; and for fix months part artillery, ammunition, and provi
fans have been colle&ing from every quarter at St. Roch.
A lever from Leghorn fays, that a fleet of Danish men of war,
confining of fix fail of the line and two frigates, are arrived there,
that the account th^y give is, that they are to cruize in the Me
diterranean to protest their trading ships from being taken by the
Barbarians, but it is generally believed to be only a pretence, but
that it is done at the request of the Court of Spain, to flop the
Moors from supplying the garrison of Gibraltar with necessaries.
June 8. A noble Lord, high in Administration, is in a few
days to make a motion in the House of Peers, to acknowledge the
independence of America; the happy effeds a similar resolution
has had in Ireland, has induced Ministry to bring on this business
immediately in Parliament, as there is little doubt, when it
passes, but Dr. Franklin will then have power to treat, and con
clude at least the preliminaries of a separate peace for America ;
for he has acknowledged, when independence is granted, Ameri
ca is no longer bound by any treaty with France not to make peace
with Great-Britain.
Extrafl of a letter from Madras, fan. 28, 1782.
" Since the Superfeffien by a new Governor (Lord Macartney)
who had never been in the service, our hopes of making any for
tune, equal td the time we facrifice in this country, are much di
minished. He thinks of governing here as in one of the King's
governments, and proppfed to make the Company's servants swear
to their accounts. He has not hitherto accepted any of the usual
presents or perquisites of his office, but how long that virtue will
last, God kn< ws.
" The Dutch had fix settlements on the Ceaft of Cormandel;
they were o,> eat assistance to Hyder. Our new Governor, Lord
Macartney, wanted to fend troops to attack these, the very day cf
his arrival, in which, from the the danger of leaving Madrafs too
much exposed, he was opposed by the Council.
''The Governor at last prevailed, and the whole fix have been
taken, one after the other. The last, which was Negapatam,
become a very considerable place, was a business of such danger,
that Sir Eyre Coote hesitated on the expedition, intending to re
serve it till he had driven Hyder out of the Carnatic; but Lord
Macartney took the whole upon himfelf. The Dutch had assist
ance from Hyder, besides French and German officers, and they
made two resolute sallies; but General Munro, who commanded,
exerted himfelf as at Pondicherry, and took the place with fewer
troops than he made prisoners.
" Private property is preserved ; but Sir Eyre Coote claims a
share in the prize-money of the public property, though he and
his army were distant several hundred miles from the place.
" The Dutch have now totally loft footing on this ride the con
tinent of India.—Their loss amounts to some millions of florins.
This bufineh, now it has succeeded, does great credit to the Gover
nor. The event is indeed become of great consequence, as Hy
der's people have since evacuated most of the Southern countries,
and there is now no port for his receiving supplies from the French
or Dutch on the coast of Cormandel."
The following is Mr. Grattan's noble and disinterested answer
to that part of the Address of the Galway Volunteers, which
proposed erecting a statue to the memory of that great character,
viz. " As to the resolution which proposes erecting a statue to
me, I can give no further answer than to repeat my ardent wiffi,
that the stream of public favour may be directed to the nation at
large, rather than to any individual; and that as the people of
Ireland have been theorem means of her delivery, so should they
be the object of her thanksgiving !"
June 14- Sir Guy Carleton, immediately on his arrival at
New- York, dispatched a Messenger (said to be Mr. Digges) to
Congress, with a copy of his commission, and the powers verted
in him by government for opening a treaty with America. His
Excellency at the hme time tranfinitted several letters from the
new Administration, in their official capacities, to the different
members of Congress, refpe&ing the sincerity of their amity to
wards America, lamenting and reprobating, in the severest terms,
the coercive conduct of the late Ministry ; and concluding, that
as they had ever been efpoyfers of the American cause, when out
of power, they hoped Congress would the more readily credit
their proposals of accommodation, ard treat them with candour;
that the former friendfhip subsisting between the two countries
might be fpeedify restored on a permanent, advantage us and ho
norable footing to both Their^propofals are said to be, to place
America exactly in the fame slate of independence as Ireland now
is; that while tlje flrength and vigour of the whole Empire is
united for the joint f'cority of all hs parts, our reciprocal com
mercial imerccurfe may mere ftro^ly link us together in the
only agreeable bonds of free-born minds, the bonds of strong
and lasting friend/hip.
Mr. Laurens is said to have likewise sent several letters by Mr.
Digges, approving of the above federal plan of union. And it
was last night confidently reported amengft the Miniflerial circles,
that Sir Guy Carleton, four days after his arrival, had received a
favourable answer fre m Congress, accompanied with proposals of a
Truce with Great-Britain for three years; that Sir Henry Clinton
let fail immediately, and has brought home those agreeable pro
posals to government.
Though it is net finally agreed upon to acknowledge the inde
pendence of America in Parliament, yet it is thought, in case a
new Parliament fbould be chosen, that such a motion will cer
tanly be made in both Houses very early in the ensuing Sessions
fheuld Carleton be unfuccefsful.
June 15. It is reported in the city, that some American gen
tlemen are come over from New-York with proposals from th e
Congress for a reconciliation with England.
Mr. Grenville will soon return to France. He is not yet gone,
but his stay here has probably been delayed only to receive new
inffruftions, founded on the information received from Sir Henry
Clinton relative to the state of affairs in America.
. Letters by yesterday's mail (delivered out only this afternoon)
make strong mention of a peace, in consequence of which stocks
are rather better.
A letter from Peterfoutf dated May 17, fays, “ That the
Count d'Oftermann, Vice-Chancellor of Russia, had delivered to
the Baron de Waffenaar-Starrenbourg, Ambassador Extraordinary
from the States-General of the United Provinces of the Low
Countries, a note to the following purport:
Their High Mightinesses the States-General of the United
Provinces have been already informed by the Ministers of the
Empress resident among them, of the resolutions which the King
of Great -Britain hath taken relative to the propositions made for
merly by their High Mightinesses, as a basis on which the whole
work of pacification should be founded under the auspices of her
Imperial Majesty. She cannot but felicitate herfelf in having
compleatly succeeded with his Britannic Majesty, and brought
abort, through her intermission, the preliminary so much desired
by their High Mightinesses for the establishment of a treaty, which
they justly regard as the most essential pledge of the Lberty of the
commerce of the Republic.
The Empress, relying on the great penetration and wisdom of
their High Mightinesses, is intirely convinced that they will seize
this favorable moment to extinguish the hatred and animosity
which have hitherto kept up the troubles between the two mari
time powers ; and that to hasten the conclusion of this important
work, they will immediately agree with his Britannic Majetty
on a lufpenfion of arms, which will unite the double advantage
of immediately freeing the commerce of the Republic from the
Ihackles with which it has hitherto been harraffed, and leave
time fufficient to form arrangements for the overture of a formal
negotiation of peace, and to determine on a place where the con
ferences may be opened / And in proceeding to the nomination
of effective Plenipotentiaries, to assist at the said conferences,
they will fettle the conditions on which they are inclined to re^
eftablilh peace with Great-Britain; and that finally they will
make every thing as easy as possible for this purpose, as they have
formally premised, as soon as the condition now granted, relative
to the freedom of commerce, ihall have been previously admitted."
It is said there are two persons of diftindion now in London,
on a similar errand to that in which Mr. Grenville is engaged at
Paris. Their residence is at the house of one of the foreign
Ministers.
The news of General Conway's motion, the pacific resolve of
Parliament, together with the change of Ministers, was received
at Philadelphia with that dignity which became considerate Free
men. No noisy joy, or frantic triumph, but every countenance
exhibited manly fatisfa&ion, on the infant dawn of peace the
only bar to which, will be our refufal of an open avowal of the
independence of America. Without that avowal, every proposi
tion will fail of success, and be treated with neglect, if not
with contempt!
France has long enough enjoyed the benefits of American com
merce, procured to their country during the course of the war;
but we have still reason to hope that with the returning bleffinge
of peace, the bounteous streams of commerce will again return to
their own channels, no less through the remembrance of former
friendship, than through the superior advantage of our markets
and integrity of our merchants.
General Clinton was at Court yesterday, and clofetted with his
Majesty a considerable time.
Jure 17. Letters from Amsterdam fay that their High Migh
tir.effes the States of Holland have at length determined to enter
into a negotiation for a peace with England as soon as possible;
for which purpose couriers are dispatched to the Courts of Vienna
and P^ter/burgh, to appoint a time and place for opening the ne
gotiation, which the letter fays has given great joy to the people
in general ; and it further fays, the merchants are preparing to
ship their goods as soon as hostilities cease.
Ministry are in daily expectation of the arrival of some persons
in London, from the belligerent powers, with full powers to
" ea 'f or a general peace, Mr. Grenville having been some weeks
ago inverted with Plenipotentiary powers to the Court of Paris,
The motion for American Independence, which was to have
come on last week in the House of Peers, was deferred till Mi
nißry had full time to consult with Sir Henry Clinton on that
fubjed, and will be brought on in the course of this week.
June 18. Letters from Lisbon by yesterday's mail mention, that
the Spaniards had not by the last accounts renewed the attack of
Gibraltar, waiting for a reinforcement of troops, and some en
gineers from France.
A letter from Holland by the way of Oftend, mentions, that
the body of merchants have received a note from the State#
General, intimating that a peace is certainly on the eve of being
concluded, firft between England and Holland, and then a gene
ral one, and that the preliminaries are actually fettled.
HOUSE of LORDS, June 17.
Faffed the American truce bill, and the Commissioners of ac
counts bill.
Lord John Cayendifo informed the House, that as he found great
objections within doors, and still greater without, to the turnpike
tax, it was his wish to withdraw it, and substitute some other its
its place; and therefore he would, with the leave of the House,
take till Wedneftay next to consider of the business. It was hie
duty, however, to tell the House and the nation, that they must
dare to look their dangers in the face, and bear their burdens,
which at present were unavoidable: this was not a war of ambi
tion; is was not a war for conquest ; it was 3 war of necessity,
and must be maintained with spirit, until his Majesty's Miniftera
could determine it by an honorable peace, which was an event
for which they wished most anxiously, and they wruld no doubt
endeavour to improve every circumstance to that desirable end.
On the report of the Bill for the repeal of the Irilh declaratory
law,
the Earl of Abingdon spoke to the following effed;
,I rife most cordially to express my concurrence with this mo
tion; to rejoice in the repeal of the law which is the objeft of
the bill before us; to profefs my most entire and perfert fatisfac
tion with every thing that has been done by his Majesty's present
Minifteis for the kingdom cf Ireland, and to regret only, that
what has been dome, was not sooner done, from the plain con
vidion of its rectitude. But, my Lords, when I have said this,
I hope I have said en; ugh on the part of Ireland. In"the extacy
and rapture of conferring arts of justice upon Ireland, the rights
of Great-Britain are not to be abandoned, nor must they be over
looked. This country has still its rights.— This country is still
the feat of the empire, and this country must remain the feat of
the empire, or the last drop of its blood must be shed in the con
teit. My Lords, I do not choose to open myfelf further upon
this occasion at this moment; but it is my fixed design to trouble
your Lordfllips with a motion upon the present relative situation
of these two kingdoms, of the greatest magnitude, and, perhaps,
of the higher importance that ever called for your Lordships de
liberation. Whether I shall be able to do this in the present
Sessions of Parliament or not, will depend upon the time of the
fitting of Parliament; but if from this circumstance I shall be
prevented fiom bringing this motion forward now, your Lord
ships may be assured, that it will be among the very firft matters
of business that shall engage your Lordihips attention upon the
opening of the next Sessions; or rather, should a dissolution of
Parliament take place, upon the opening of the next Parliament.
And now, my Lores, I will not trouble your Lordships further,
than to repeat my approbation of the present measure, and to
give my assent to the passing of this bill into a law.
By a private tetter from Paris we are informed, that one of the
leading flipulations lately suggested to Mr. Grenville, was the re
floration of t e province of Canada, for which ail our Weft-India
iflajids, except the Grenades, were to be giv^n up in return.
An account may soon be expected from America of some inter
course having taken place between Sir Guy Carleton and the Con
gress; and it is an idea not unsupported by the best opinions, that
the account will inform us of some tendency towards a peace.
Extra 6? of a letter from J°*f'y> J"*' 12.
" The French still keep up the alarm of invading this island,
at least in appearances. The flat boats laid up for the winter are
launched; there is a large naval force in Cancalle Bay, and an
army ready to embark. All our ports are well fortified and our
garrisons compleat; we have also two frigates and a cutter crui
sing near us, fa that no attempts can be made while such vigi
lance is observed, without our being fully apprised of them."
Ail press warrants are withdrawn from'lreland by order of
Government, on account of the vote of the Parliament of that
Kingdom, to raise 20,c00 seamen for his Majesty's service.
Yetterday advice was received of Rear Admiral Sir John Lock-
R °" '""" arrived with his squadron in the Downs, from 2
cruise in the North seas.
Advice is also received by Government of the combined fleets
having put to fa from Cadiz, consisting of a 6 Spani/h, and 7
French ships of the line.'
Though it is above a month since Commodore Johnftone'g
Dutch prizes were condemned, they still lie at Deptford, without
having yet broke bulk.
Extras of a letter from Bourdeaux, June 12.
..' , order arrived here the 9th, to lay an embargo on the
ships bound to the Weft-Indies, and they are now ordered to re
ceive troops end fores on government account for the different