The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-05-29 00:00:00, page 1

VIENN A, January 20, 1781.
HIS imperial majesty has been pleased to issue
out two Ordinances bearing date the 17th and
23d ult. the 17th year of his reign, as king of
the Romans, and the firfl of his empire. The firfl re
frains the abuses which superstition had introduced,
b y young people ent ring into a religious life, and
making over their property to the monafleries; his ma
jesty limits all such donations to 1500 florins of Rhine
currency ; thereby confirming, and giving new force
to a law published on the 26th of August, 177/.—By
the second it is enabled that all deserters will be con
fidered as civilly dead, and are declared incapable of
ever claiming any inheritance from the time of their
defection.
PARI S, February 4.
Last Thursday the king figged the order for the de
parture of the squadron destined for America. It is
to be commanded by M. de la Touche Treville, and
will coafift es 25 ships of the line, viz.
Ships. Guns. Commanders.
La Ville de Paris, 110 De la Touche Treville.-
L'Augufte, 80 De Barras.
Le Sceptre, 74 De Reiz.
Le Cesar, 74 D'Efpinoufe.
Le Magnanime, 74 De Vaudreuil.
Le St. Esprit, So De Chabert.
Le Citayen, 74 De la Porte-Vefin.
Le Souverain, 74 Glandeves.
Le Languedoc, 80 D'Arros.
Le faeros, 74 De Suffren.
Le Northumberland, 74 De Brigueville^
L'Annibal, 74 De Tremignon.
Le Pluton, 74 D'Albert.
Le Diademe, 74 De Monteclair.
Le Zele, 74 D e Grafperville.
La Burgogne, 74 De Chary.
Le Marfeillis, 74 De Caftellane Mayaftre.
Le -cipion, 74 De Claville.
L'He&or, 74 Renaud d'Alain.
L'Hercule, 74 [< Turpin.
Le Glorieux, 74 D'Ercas.
L'Artefian, 64 D'Efty.
Le Vailant, 64 De Cary.
Le Vengeur, 64 De Forbin.
Le Sphinx, 64 De Chilleau.
There is much talk about M. de Choifeul. That
ex-minister will, it is laid, be again admitted into
the king's council of ft te. His profound knowledge
of the interefis of courts, and long experieir e in pub
lic affairs, render him a valuable man. However, no
thing is yet decided about him.
L ON DO N, February 13, 1781.
It begins to be a matter of great doubt, whe
ther mimflers really intend to attempt the relief of
Gibraltar, or not ; for they now give out, that the
French and Spaniards jointly are too strong, unleft
we can fend thirty ships of the line.
The grand fleet weft to have failed from Portsmouth
yesterday ; but on account of the heavy gale that came
on Saturday evening, the ships let down their anchors
again.
Four ships of the line, two frigates, and 5000 troops
are embarked 011 boar 4 transports at 1 'Orient, for the
Eafb Indies, for which they are immediately to fail.
Eighteen fail of the line are likewise preparing at
Ereft, with all poffble expe ition for the Weft-Indies
We are autnorifed to fay, that the insinuation
thrown out in the public prints, on the day fubfeqwent
to the trial of Lord George Gordon, that the jury
had declared the quellion to be nice and difficult, is
totally void of truth and foundation.
No person can be so blind as not to fee that the
Ruffians mean to join in hostilities agaimft us. Their
express renunciation of our maritime fovere:gnty, and
their vindication of a right to the five conveyance of
stores to whatever ports they pieafe, and their denial
of the jurifdiftion of our court of admiralty, are de
clarations incomptlible with the continuance of amity
or neutrality. '
The plain reason why we do not fend relief to Gibral
tar is, because we are afraid to fend a moderate fleet,
and we cannot spare a large one.
The bright news of the American revolt, seems to
be vanished into smoke. Not such is the progress of
hoflile tidings; the rumours of a French, a Spanish,
and a Dutch war, have arisen from gradual furmifes
clouds and doubts have at si r s lconcealed them, but
the hoflile flame has at length broke out with certain
and indubitable terror.
It is remarkable that no dispatches from Carolina
have been published in the London Gazette, since the
battle of Camden, which happened the 16th of August
(near fix months ago) although it is acknowledged that
several skirmishes have happened of considerable corfe
quenco, in favour of both sides.
VOL. X. 1
TUESDAY,, MAY 2G, i,3fi
O R, THE
GENERAL ADVERTISER.
Published every TUESDAY and SATURDAY.
The report of Lord Mulgrave's resigning his commit
fion in the navy, has no foundation ; for though his
lordship is one of the lordslof the Admiralty, he fees no
impropriety of being at that board, and on board oc
casionally.
Letters are received from Dominica, which give a dis
mal account of the effects of the hurricane on that island.
So eager and intent are ministers to pieafe a certain
Great Man in the pursuit of that hobby-horse of all
wars, the American war, and to demonstrate their libe
rality in contributing out of their salaries and douceurs
of office, that Jolly Dick will fell his last dozen of cla
ret, Bathurft pawn his last new fmirkifh tail whig, and
Welbore mortgage his old choice suit of mottled velvet,
fifteen years old, and two years layed up, ere the war
shall cease with America; and as a proofof their unal
terable attachment to the glorious measure of lord
North's wife and politic administration, these consum
mate politicians have fettled that the Dutch shall be
well trimmed, and the Ruffians too, if they dare to fay
three words.
The minister is at his utmost fliiffs about the new
loan, and flriving his utmost to make it palatable, and
the taxes flip down, but there is not the money to be
got so easily as some people may think; for a nation
clipt of its territory, A defrauded of its commerce, and
groaning beneath an accumulated load of taxes, can ill
f"Pply, from year to year, the exorbitant demands of
an extravagant and ignorant administration.
Last week the following complimentary card was pre
sented to a late noble prifouer.
“ The Protestant friends of Lord George Gordon,
who have associated together on his account ever since
the fifth day of October, 1780,: and whose resolves have
been ecchoed through the two united kingdoms, beg
leave to present their most refpeftful compliments, and
to congratulate his lordlhip, their worthy, firm, and
steady president, on his late acquittal, from a charge
they always thought him innocent of : This striking
infiance of the divine interposition, loudly calls on
them, as Protestants, to give God the glory. They
heartily wish a refloration of his lordship's health ; and
it is their devout prayer, that the übiverfal good to
which all the operations of Providence tend, may re
sult to him and them from this signal salvation."
The Dutch ship Elizabeth Helena, captain Bray,
from Granada, to Rotterdam, taken and carried into
Falmouth, is ordered to be released.
The high wind last night did considerable damage
among the shipping; a Gravefend boat going down
the river, with upwards of thirty passengers on bo^rd,
was overfet, and every person perished. Several hou
ses were blown down in various parts of London and
Wefiminfler, and it is feared many lives are loft.
Extrad of a letter from the Hague, Feb. 2.
“ We are assured the emperor has demanded of the
States General, an exa& account of the revenues their
High Mightinesses have drawn from the barriers in the
Low Countries, and what they have employed to re
pair and improve the barrier towns.
Feb. 17. On the 4 th instant, was married at Monk'
Wearmouth Shore, near Sunderland, Mr. Allen Mac
donnald, aged 95 years, to Mrs. Margaret Bedge, a
young widow, aged 25 years.
Extract of a letter from Portsmouth, February, f 6.
At a meeting of the inhabitants es this town for
the relief of the fufferers in the Wefl-ludia islands,
] 3s'-was Contributed, and books opened to receive
further contributions.''
Feb. rg. Yeflerday morning private advices were re
ceived from France, which were immediately sent to the
king. By what has transpired; we have information
that 8000 troops, in the vicinity of Brest, have adual.
ly embarked on board the transports, and that they are
bound to America, with seven fail of the line compleatly
equipped and manned.
Extrad of a letter from Plymouth, February 13.
" About ten o'clock at night, the Thames, a trans
port, beund for New York, was wrecked under the Hoe. #
All her crew were saved; she beat to pieces before the
morning—This morning presented nothing but parts
of the wrecks, swimming about, and the most tremen
dous sea ever seen. The Hero, the Daedalus, Cham
pion, and Neraefis, rode it out very well.
Feb. 20. On Sunday morning a messenger was dif
putched to Portsmouth, with immediate orders for the
failing of the grand fleet. They had been prevented erfu
some time from failing by the loss of the ftorefhip 111
the Downs during the late hurricane They have now
got their stores, but the wind is contrary.
The report of the American revolt being now decisi
vely falfified, feme retribution, some mark of public
infamy, should be deeply fixed on those three M- of
p who endeavoured to circulate this report, and
vouch for its truth. By the operation which this re
port had on the funds, it is computed that every money
dealing man, in the secret, has profited above 100, sool.
Lord Cornwall^, in the preface of his dispatches, at
published in the Gazette, promises to give a particular
account of all the operations of the army of Carolina :— 1
Where then are the particulars of the defeat of colonel
Ferguson, atid the number of troops that were loft^
Where is the account of the unfuccefful encounter witll
general Sumpter, as well as of colonel Tarleton's en
gagement with him ? These are con cealed from us, for
reasons best known to the minifler; and while they draw
a veil over a part, it is reasonable to conjecture, that
there may be also other disagreeable circumftancea
which Weare not so well informed of. A Royal Ga
zette should be sworn, not only to tell the truth, but
to tell the wholi truth, in as far as may be done with
out affifti g the enemy by improper information.
The Grantham packet, captain Bull, from New-
York, is arrived at Falmouth in twenty-two days.
The fleet of 25 fail of the line ready to fail under the
command of Mr. Le Touche Treville, wears a very
formidable afped towards the Weft India Islands.
What force have w@ to oppose against them? Sir
George Rodney has been defeated in his attempt upon
St. Vincent's, and according to probable reports,
with a considerable loss. He has been unable to effect
any thing against the exposed and damaged islands of
the enemy, though unopposed by any hoflile fleet to
counteract his deGgns. But how will the islands of
Barbadoes or Jamaica be able to resist the invasion of
this powerful force. The distressed objects, as well as
the grateful offerings, of charity, sent to their relief,
will be alike exposed to the irrefiflable attack of thia
fleet.
Extract of a letter from Portsmouth, Feb. 19.
'' The Medway, of 60 guns, has hoisted a signal sos
rtierchant ships bound to Gibraltar.
" This morning part of colonel Fullarton and co
lonel Humberfton's regiments were embarked on boarJ
the outward bound Eaft-Indiamen.
Extract of a letter from Olney.
" The news of lord George Gordon's honourable!
acquittal was received at this town with peculiar eclat;
the bells were immediately set a ringing, and the even
ing was concluded with illuminations, fireworks, and
other demon flrations of joy."
Feb. 28. Yesterday morning an express arrived at the
admiralty from Portsmouth with advice, that the grand
fleet is completely ready for sea, the whole being at
this time at anchor at Spithead, and only waiting for
a favourable wind to set fail. Several ships of the line/
that have been waiting at Plymouth, have received'
orders to join them, which will make this great arma
ment confix of thirty-two ships of the fine (nine of ths
number being three deckers), five 50 gun ships, and
eleven fr gates, beside fire ships. The East India and
New York fleets, with the transports and trade for Ire
land, are likewise ready, and will tak^ the benefit of
the above Convoy.
The French frigates lately taken, as well as most of
the privateers of that nation, are filled up between the
linings on the quarter with old junk, to prevent the shot:
from passing through. This pradice, which appears of
great utility, is now adopting on board some of our
frigates.
March r. The following are reported to be the fub
flance of some of the preliminary articles offered by the
empress of Ruflia, for restoring peace to Great Britain
and Holland:
„ A cessation of arms to take place between both par
ties, asfloon as the nature of such an undertaking ad
mits.
That the contending powers do meet, by their minis
ters plempotentiary, at Antwerp, or feme other place
as may be fixed upon by the ministers trom the media
tor—The time as Ihort as possible.
That all prizes taken before the cessation of arms
may take place (being legally condemned) ihall be the
property of the caators.
That alb old treaties shall be abolished and cancel
„a ne 7 ° ne entered into between England and
Holland, in the articles of which shall be fully and mi'
nutely described every article^or thing , and nature of
trade, that may be deemed contraband and illegal in
times cither p^rty may be at war with other powers
Advice is received of the death of the hon. James
Charles litt, younger brother of lord Chatham, at
Barbadoes, in December lau, of a violent f ever . he was
a lieutenant in the navy, and commanded a sloop on
that Ration. t
Information i 3 ' said to be received, that 25 shi ps of
the line have failed from Bred for Cadiz, wi^<&"
supposed they will io on proceed to ihe Weftlndis
1 re / eiv ' d °'^ ve ^^ privates b^ina
loft ,n the late storm, and some others are miffing, wh
are feared to have sha r ed the fame fate. The Holt
mai A mentions that th&texel is firewed with wrecks"
[ NUMB. 737.