The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-08-07 00:00:00, page 2

To the CONGRESS.
ON E of the most important objects which can possi
bly demand your attention, is the encouragement of
the American crtizers and privateers. Those have render,
ed us the most essential Services under a thousand discour
agements. In the infancy of ocr naval armaments in the
year 1776, when our affairs wore a gloomy afpeft on the
land, those in great numbers preyed upon the British trade
and brought us many arti les for public and private use,
without which the war could hardly have been Supported.
Since that period they have rather lessened than increased.
It is the business of Copgrefs to enquire into the causes of
this decrease, arid if possible, to remove them.
A prodigious discouragement arises to that uSeful body
of men, who are concerned in this business, from the diffi
culty of knowing what vessels are lawful prize, and what
not. A practice has crept in among the merchants of using
double setts of papers. The Britiflipapers are generally
the oflenfible ones before they are taken ; the others are
not to be produced till they are captured by an American ;
in some instances not till they are brought into port and
libelled in a Court of Admiralty. The Captain of an A
merican frigate or privateer meets one of their vessels, dis
covers her Ewglifh papers and believes he has taken a va
luable prize ; —butalas! when he comes to port, he finds
that he has brought upon his hands an expensive lawsuit.
In the Court of Admiralty a defence is set up, which per
haps he never dreamt of, and here, perhaps for the firft
time, are produced another sett of papers from a Danish
General or the Dutch Hogan Mogan ; one of our mer
chants clafcs her either for himfelf, or for somebody or
other in some neutral I(land ; the Captain or mate (wears
a long flory about Secret inftruTions aad their intention
of deceiving the enemy, and the vessel is either acquitted,
or else they have to run a long course thro' the Court of
Appeals, anti, perhaps lefe their prize at lafl. In the
mean time th^ sailors had reckoned upon their prize money
and perhaps (pent it before hand ; —they are disappointed,
curse the country and quit it. The Captain is threatned
with a prosecution for damages and forfwears privateering
or resigns. Thus the privateers are laid up, or fitted out
as merchantmen with a few hogsheads of tobacco, and
the Continental Ships lie in port for want of hands.
Some remedy ought to be applied to this evil. The law
Should be fettled on Inch a footing that the Captain of a
cru>zer, if possessed of common sense, may be able to know
and distinguish what vessels are lawful prize; and when
he has taken a prize he Should be able to get her condem
ned with as little dispute as possible. To accomplish this
the way is plain and easy. Our enemies condemn every
vessel that has American papers. Our allies, by an edid
of their King, have very wifely established the fame law.
Double papers, falfe papers or the want of papers are, by
this edift, made fufficient grounds for condemnation. We
alone leave the question, of prize or no prize, to be deter
mined by the confeience of a Smuggling Captain or Mate.
If Congress would adopt the fame rule with that of the
King of France, encouragement would be given Efficient
to engage many in this important business, who now de
cline it ; and this department of the war would revive and
flourish
An objection is Sometimes made, that this would destroy
a branch of trade, from which we derive considerable Sup
plies; but the fa& is, that the Supplies derived to us in this
wayare very inconsiderable. The fair traders import fifty
times as much; and there is good reason to believe, that
the course of these voyagesis fucb, as to make the ports of
Newport or New York if they can. They only reach us
in case of capture by the Americans; and, in that case,
they are provided with tie means of eluding their captors.
This may possibly enrich the merchants who have double
connections—at the fame time with us and with the ene
my; but it destroys tke cruizing business : And besides,
as I suppose these vessels are confened to our ports only in
case of capture, we Should have more ofthem arrive by
making them legal prize, than in any other way. To ts%
may be added, that in etted we prevent the French from
ever fending any prizes into our ports for condemnation.
They will certainly never fend prizes to us if our Courts
of Admiralty are directed by laws, so much more unfa
vourable than their own.
This leads me to fay a word or two on the fubjeft of ex
empting the Bermudians from capture. These people,
from whatever carafe, have very little answered our expec
tations of deriving fupplits thro' them; and, whatever their
inclinations may be, their port has become an asylum for
the British privateers. If the exemption from captures
Should be continued to them, after the double-paper trade
is forbidden, there is danger that our Smugglers will take
cut Bermudian papers or employ Bermudian vessels —
Here to® the question meets us again; as matters now
fland what would become ofa Bermudian vessel that Should
be captured by a Frenchman and sent to us for condemna
tion ?—Their law makes them prize ; ours acquits them,
If it be fail that, in the case of a capture ofa Bermudian
or a double-paper vessel by a Frenchman, our Court of Ad
miralty wo«ld condemn her; I answer that, in the firft
place, I doubt the law, and in the next place, if this point
From the CONNECTICUT COURANT.
To the PRINTE R,
SIR,
16 E N 1) you the translation of a letter written to the
Editor of the Leiden Gazette, dated at Paris, the Bth
of February last, by Arthur Lee, Esq; upon his fee
ing Mr. Deang's publication of the sth of December.
You are desired to publilh it in your next paper.
, A Friend to Justice.
To the Editor of the Leiden Gazette.
"I PRAY you, Sir, to gi^e the public t.e following
answer to the contents of a letter which appeared under the
signature of Silas Deane, viz. That I declare in the
aloft Solemn manner, that all the accusations against me,
which it contains, are absolutely falfe. A particular de
tail of the proof which will demonstrate, not only that
those accusations are falfe and fcandaious, but also, that
the accuser hasin all reason and justice loft the confidence
of the public, due to the Delegates of the United States
in Congress assembled, whose servant I am ; and I cannot
give this detail to the public, without their permission.
In the mean time I avail myfelfy that a clear and positive
denial, will be regarded by every honefl and impartial
person, as a Sufficient answer to bare accusation ma
nifestly dilated by the rancour of a man displaced. ,
(Signed) ARTHUR LEE."
were once established, every min, who is concerned hi
privateering, would find it his interest to apply for a
French commission. Would you be pleafoci with this?—
Would it be for our honour that a coremiffion even from
our allies Should by Americans be preferred to our &wn ?--
It will be found every way expedient that our allies and
ourselves Should have the fame enemies and the fame rules
refpeaing prizes.
I have thrown out these thoughts freely and I hope de
cently, in full confidence that no apology is necessary for
the meanest of your constituents in fuggefling his opinions
upon public me ifures.- •.What regard ought to be paid to
themit is with .you to determine.
DVILIUS.
rw^ HE Committee for the borough of Wilmington de
sire you will publish the following depositions and
certificate, respecting the conduct of Jonathan Rumford,
in purchasing and Shipping flour, contrary to law. They
at the fame time desire to have it understood, that it is the
importance of the case and net of the man which induces
them to take this notice of a publication of his in your pa
per of Saturday last, and in which publication there is an
evident catching at words, to avoid coming to ta&s and
circumfiances.
Wilmington Borough, CT.
P E RSON ALLY came before me the fubferiber,
one of the Burgesses for the said borough, Watkins Cramp
ton, and being sworn on the Holy Evangelists, doth fay :
Spme time in the month of March lift it being reported,
that Jonathan Rumford, Jun. had fllipped a quantity of
flour on board a certain Capt. Palmer's vessel ; in conver
sation with the said Rumford, this deponent asked him,
how he could be accountable for such conduct, his answer
was, that his authority was from the French Agent, and
was under no concern about it, as there were only two
barrels on his own account, which he was privileged to
do, as a small adventure for his wife and a gentlewoman
in Philadelphia, and this deponent further faith not.
WATKINS CRAMPTON.
Sworn this 4th August,
1779, before
DAVID BUSH.
In the above mentioned publication Jonathan Rumford
has produced a certificate, Signed " Thomas Stroud." which
fays, that Rumford did not apply to him to remove the
flour, but that Joseph Tatnel informed him, that Rum
ford had purchased a quantity of flour, and that if he,
Stroud, would apply, he might have a chance of the freight,
and that when ne, Stroud, did apply, said Rumford told
him,that he had engaged another Shallop-man,but he might
nevertheless givehim a part. This, too' intended by Mr.
Rumford as a vindication, amounts to a confirmation of
his design in removing the flour, and whether Rumford
applied immediately to Stroud, or by his conduct occa
sioned Stroud to apply to him, is a matter but of little con
sequence.
In like manner we would observe, that tho' Rumford in
a poftfeript to his publication, fays, that Colonel George
Evans had denied faying, that “ Rumford bad teen
guilt) of federal di-ty tricks before, yet tiu^denial docs
not prove, that Col. Evans might not have expressed the
fame sentiment, which these words convey, tho' not ii
the particular arrangement in which the expression is used.
We here Subjoin a deposition, made by Thomas Stroud,
before John Lee, Esq; which will put both these matters
in their true light.
Neto- Call 'e County.
PERSONALLY appeared before me John Lea,
Esq ; one of the Justices of the Peace for the county, Tho
mas Stroud, and being sworn, did depose and fay, that on
his return from Morris's river, some time in June last, his
wife told him, Mr. Jonathan Rumford was at the house en
quiring forhim. And Mr. Joseph Tatnel told him, that
said Rumford had bought some flour from him, and if he
would apply in time, he might have the freight ofit. This
deponent accordingly applied to Mr. Rumford, who told
him he Should have part of it And this deponent told said
Rumford he would be ready next day, and n.oved his ves
sel from Wilmington to Mr. Tatnei's mill, on Brandywine
Creek, and lay there three days, waiting. Said Tatnel
then told this, deponent, he could not make much by car
ryn^ °f "> unless Rumford would allow him an extraor
dinary freight, which hefuppfed he would, as he muff put
it all in the hold and none on deck. Upon that this depo
nent went to Said Rumford, sliced him where the flour was
to be sent, he told this deponent the flour muff all be put
in the hold, and none on deck, and that he could not tell
whether the French Agent would fend an armed vessel for
it, cr whether it was to be sent up. That on hearing that,
this deponent got suspicious he mi?ht be brought into
trouble about it, and went to Col. Evans, to aSk his ad
vice, and Col. Evans advised this deponent tohave nothing
to do with it, as said Rumford was concerned in a dirty
trick before, or words to that effea. This affair happen
ed the latter end of June last ; and further this deponent
faith not.
THOMAS STROUD.
Taken and sworn before me, the
2d day of Auguh, 1779. (A Copy)
JOHN LEA.
Rumford has likewise made a deposition before one Ja
cob room, that he did not Ship flour for or on account of
Mr. Holker ; that 47 barrels of flour were Shipped byßum
ford's order, on board Capt. Palmer, is proved and can
not be denied. If his deposition be admitted, as he un
doubtedly means it Should, it now becomes him to Shew
for whom and for what purpose the said flour ^vasJbi>.
fed, as the Flipping it on any other account was contrary
to the law, prohibiting exportation.
Mr. Rumford is not accused of laving flipped flour
for Mr. Holker, but of having Shipped flour contrary to
law, and when detected therein, making life of Mr. Hol
ker's name, as a cover for his conduct, and in this view of
things, Rumford's deposition is an accusation against him
felfo for he does not swear or affirm; that he did not fay fe,
but that he did not do what he before said. All which Shews
that Mr. Evans's sentiment, however it might be expres
sed, has a Efficient foundation, and that there is fbmething
very mysterious in this method of exporting flour.
As a proof of the foregoing, we subjoin tw® depositions,
the one taken before David Bush, Esq ; and the other be
fore John Lea. Esq ; and likew rfe a certificate made in
presence of the last mentioned gentleman.
Mr. D UN L'A 'P.
Nem-Caffle Cvunfy.
PERSONALLY appeared before me John Lea,
Esq ; one of the Justices oftke Peace for the ci^ty, Pa
trick O'Flinn, and being sworn, did depose and fay ; That
some time in the month of April last, Mr. Jonathan Rum
ford and thjs deponent being in conversation together, said
Rumford mentioned, that there was a great deal of n®ife
made about that deposition of Nicholas Seilers, in regard
to the flour shipped, he declared that he had good authority
for what he had done, it being by order of hie Agent Ge
neral of France, and farther this deponent faith not.
(Signed) PATRICK O'FLINN.
Taken and sworn before me,
the 2d day of August, 1779.
JOHN LEA, (A Copy)
THESE may certify whom it may concern, That
some time in the month of March last, Jonathan Rumford
called at my house, and seemed a good deal out of humor,
in regard to a deposition being taken by Nicholas' Sellers,
before some of the Magistrates, in regard to his Dipping
a quantity of flour, on board Capt. Palmer, and he ligni
fied to me, he had good authority for what he had done,
for he had done it by order of the French A ent, except
two or tiiree barrels, which was for some private person.
The above lam wiling to be qualified t", when called
bipon. As witness my hand, tie 21 day of August, 1779.
JOSEPH BENNET.
Present,
JOHN LEA. (A Copy)
We likewise think it proper to take nm?e of a certificate
finned " John Littler," in Mr. Rurr.r 's publication,
made with a design to lessen the weight Nicholas Sellers's
deposition, (who was the original means ol bringing the
Conduct of Mr. Rumford to light) whi+ sets forth
that Sellers declared to him that he had purchased four
cattle in the Jerseys, and disposed of the fame in Philadel
phia while in the possession of the enemy.
As it is not our duty or design, while on this business,
to enquire into the merits er demerits of persons. in mat
ters foreign to the cause in quefiior, we shall only remark
thereon, that if Sellers was a fit man to supply the enemy
with be^f from the Jerseys, he was likewise a lit man to
supply them with flour from the Delaware, or for any
other elandeftine purpose Mr. Rumford might choose to
employ him in Yet we are somewhat furprited to find
this attack made on Sellers by Rumford, well knowing
the harmony which lately subsisted between them, and of
the endeavours used, and the refpe&ful mention made (in
Mr. Rumford's letter to Col. Croaghead, Esq; as Prefi.
dent of the Court) es Mr. Seilers, (tho' unfuccefsfully) to
obtain for him a tavern licence; and in like manner we
cannot but be furprized that after his conduct oh the
former flour was known, he should be recommended to
Mr. Holker to procure provisions for tire fleet "under th^
command of Count T'Enamg.
We likewise observe that Mr. Rumford in his publica
tion informs of his determination to appeal to the County
"Committee; this declaration on his part is wholly unne
cessary, as by a resolution of that Committee of the 'lsth
July, he either has or will receive a summons to appear
before them on the 14th of this montij of t/hich we can
not suppose Mr. Rumford jgnorant. With these depositi
ons and remarks we leave Mr. Rumford to juftify himfelf
before the General County Committee, at which he is to
appear, and tho' duty to our country will demand of us
every endeavour to detect and prevent illicit trade and
tranfaftions, candour and juflice will likewise confine us
to the stria line of impartiality and truth.
We are not at a loss to know the cast which Mr. Rum
ford and his friends have and will endeavour to give to
our ptocedings. Confeious, as we think they rtluft be, of
their own irregularities, they are how feekirg to cover
them under an affected anxiety to supply the fleets of our
allies; and though it is our hope that every quantity that
has been purchased under that appearance has been applied
to that service, we cannot help expressing our feats of the
contrary : And, therefore, feeling as we do, a warm ad
herence to the nation we are happily allied to, and an ear
nest dtfire that their fleets may not be deprived of the sup
ply necessary to their support, we shall on every occasion
think it our duty to attend to the conduct of tb^ purchasing
Agents, and every service we can render, either as indivi
duals or as a collective body, te procure them those Ap
plies, we fliall with the utmost ardor and chearfulnefs per
form.
By order of the Committee,
PATRICK O'FLINN, Chairman.
Committee-Room, Wilmington,
August 4, 1779.
T R E NT O N, August 4.
We are informed by good authority, that the main bo
dy of the enemy are moved down the North-River to
New-York; and there is reason to believe they Shortly
mean to make a defeent into this slate, but it is hoped the
Spirited inhabitants will be so prepared to receive them as
to prevent their carrying their predatory and lavage plan
into execution.
We are also informed that the enemy are again in posses
sion of Stony Point, where they are repairing the works
with great industry, and that they have reinforced the gar
rison at Verplank's point to 1500 men.
Since our last about 200 prif®ners, chiefly sailors, passed
thro' this town under guard for Elizabeth-Town, to be
exchanged.
By a gentleman from Elizabeth-Town we are told it is
currently reported there that General Tryon, with about
geon refugees and tories, failed up the Sound a few days
ago, supposed with an intention of attacking and destroy
ing New-London ; but we flatter ourselves, from the pre
parations made for their reception in that quarter, and
from the bravery of our eastern brethren, that they will be
prevented from executing fa detestable, so diabolical a de-
We hear that Lord Stirling, with his divifon of the A
merican army, has moved to the neighbourhood of Pomp
ton Plains.
PHILADELPHIA, August 7.
Extract of a letter from Orange Count), dated ,ul, 29.
" Last Friday part of the Gofhen and Warwick militia
being called for, on an alarm, that the Indians had made
an excursion on Old Minifink. When Colonel Hathorn,
Lieutenant Colonel Weafner, Colonel Tufton, Major Pa
pan, with a number of other officers and men, marched to