The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-03-12 00:00:00, page 2

attention, the affidavits and other papers, which prove
r a treafoha ble and danger >us intercourse and connec
tion, between the leaders of the revolt in the north
eaflern part of the flare, and the common enemy. In
order tha' you may form.a competent judgment of this
matter, such of the original papers rejecting it, as are
in my poffiffion, will'be delivered you : Your own
prudence w II however megeft, that these communica
tions. as far as they relate to the names of persons,
from whom the intelligence is derived, ought not to be
divulged. J have only to observe, that these proofs
are corroborated by a variety of circumflances, which
equally tend to fliew, that these criminal, tranfaftions
are not confined to individuals, but have been con
ducted under the countenance and fandion of that
nfurped government.
GEO. CLINTON.
Albany, ff. JOHN EDGAR, late of Detroit, being
duly sworn, depofeth and faith, that
he commanded a vessel belonging to the king ofGreat
Britain, on the lakes Huron and Erie, from some time
in the year 1772, to some time in the yeir 1775; that
he then gave up the fa d command and went into
trade: Tnat on the 24th day of Augufl, 1779, he was
taken into cuflody at Detroit, by one major Lenolt,
of the Sth or king's regiment, charging this deponent
with corresponding with the Americans, and coonfel
ling the savages: That he was put in prison and in
irons, and in two days sent off in irons to Niagara,
where he continued in irons for nine months, and
- in prison for eleven: That he was then sent to Buck's
Jfland, where he was continued in confinement for five
months: That he was then removed to Montreal,
where he was confined for fix months, at the end of
which time, after repeated applications he was by
general M'Clean granted the liberty of the town:
That on the goth day of September lafl, he was sent
for by one , who had before been taken by the
British, from the : That on his calling on the
said——, he told this deponent, that he was privy to
h's design of making I is escape, and that he was desir
ous of fending some important intellige ce to- -— ;
and on this deponents engaging to deliver any message,
the said informed this deponent, that he bad not
been confined since he had been brought there : That
he was one of the persons on the part of the slate of
Vermont (as he called it) who had been in treaty with
the British, touching an agreement to deliver up that
country i to the hands of the British : That they had
compleated the agreement, and desired him to inform
, •-- of it, and desire him to get some one to be ex
changed for him on his arrival, which he exptfled soon
to do, on his parole, and then he would make known
the whole affair : That this deponent underflood, that
the two Fays,and Ira Allen,were with others, agents for
that tractof country, called by them the state of Ver
mont ; and that one captain Sherwood, and one doCt r
Smith, who formerly lived in Albany, were two of the
agents on the part of the Britifli: That the said agents
sometimes met at Capetown in the Grants, and
foretimes in Canada: That this deponent has also un
derstood, that patof the agreement between the Bri
tish and the people, calling.themfelves the people of the
date of Vermont, was, they were to raise two thousand
men for the Brtifh, who were to be officered by the
people of the country, and were never to be drafted
into other regiments, and never to be employed out
of the country, and these men were to be fed, eloathed,
paid, ?nd otherwise supported by the British; and
that Britain was to furnifh and maintain a twenty gun
ship, which was to be kept for them on the Lake :
And this deponent further faith; that since his escape
from Canada, at -, he saw the above named
at his own house there, who had been permitted to
come on his pardetut was not then exchanged ; That
on this deponents coming to , he went thence east
# to Newbury-Port, to avoid coming down through the
Grants, least he fliould be taken up and sent back to
Canada. And further this deponent faith not.
JOHN EDG AR.
"Peughkeepiie, February 21, 1782.
Oehtlfmen, ~
H F very important and indispensable business a-
A rifug from the papers which I nave the honor to
lay before you with this message, vrilj. 4 flatter my
felf, evince the nectffiry of conveningyou on anearlier
, day, than that to which yonwere adjourned.
The different aCts, containing requisitions of aids in
men and money : the address of Coogrefs, and the let
tors from the commander in chief, and the fuperin
tendant of finance, which accompany them, as they
merit, so f am persuaded they will engage your early
and serious consideration.
doctor Smith, captain Sherwood, and another person,
whole name the deponent does not recoiled, who were
appointed commissioners to treat with the said major
sa) : tat the Laid Fay brought with him upwards
oi thirty Hessians, deserted from Burgoyne's army,
State of New York, ff.
DAVID ABEEL, of Katt' sKill, in the county of
Albany, yeoman, being duly sworn, depofeth and faith,
That some time in the month of April last past, he
was taken prisoner at his own house, by a party of
Indians and tories, and carried to Niagara, and from
thence to Montreal: That on his way to the latter
place, at the Cedars, he saw one Johan Joft Herke
mer, who informed this deponent, that the people on
the New. Hampshire Grants, headed by colonel Allen,
would join the British withfifteen hundred men: that
a major Alien was then gone down to Quebec for that
purpose : that at Montreal it was the general report,)
that the New Hampshire Grants would join them:
that this deponent saw at Ifle-L'Noix, a major Fay,
on board a vessel called the. Royal George, and who,
this deponent understood, was an inhabitant on the
said Grants . that on board of the said vessel was one:
Sworn this 19th day of
December, 1781, before
Richard Morris,
Robert Yates.
I cannot forbear recommending to your particular
TISH -K I L L, March ~
MA DRI D, October 5.
BY the last letter from the camp at Gibraltar, dated
September 24, we learn with what vigour and vi
vacity the firing has been kept up since the 16th of that
month till the 24th, between our troops and those of
the enemy. Tn the night of the 16th a road of com
munication was begun for some new batteries to be
ereCted in places the most proper for incommoding the
English in their camp and in the bay. During the two
or three firft nights our men executed some works with
.great tranquility. Afterwards the fire from the gar
rison dangerously wounded a sergeant of the Walloon
guards, - who died soon after; but then the enemy,
fearing the effects of our works, kept.up for the three
following nights an inceffent, terrible and well directed
fire against our works, whereby one sergeant of artil
lery was killed, and 18 or zofoldiers wounded.
During this successive firing, which did notin any
manner suspend our works for a new communication,
Extract of a letter from ——, dated Jan. ~ 1782.
" A gentleman of intelligence, who left New York ,
on the 23d ultimo, and in whom I can place fulkconfi-<
dence, gave me the following particulars, which I
conceived your excellency entitled to ; and therefore
do myfelf the honor to transmit th^rr:
" That some time since, commissioners from Ver
mont, had met with persons appointed by general
Haldiman, and offered to become fubje& to the crown
and government of Great-Britain, upon the following
terms, viz."
for exchange, as this deponent was informed, and
which he delivered to the British. And further this
deponent faith not. DAVID ABEEL.
Sworn, tins 20th day of
December, 1781, before
Richard Morris,
Robert Yates.
" Firfl, That the territory as claimed by the Ver
monteers, be constituted a separate and diftind colony
or government.
SALE M, February 21.
Last Tuesday arrived at a fafe port, the prize ship
Experiment, Daniel Sinclair, late master, captured the
23d ult. on her passage from England to Jamaica, by
the privateer,dllip Junius Brutus, captain Brookhouf,
of this port. The cargo of this prize confifis chiefly of
flour, having on board 1500 barrels She mounts 18
long fix pounders, and fought 3 glafes before the struck,
had 2 men killed, and 5 wounded. The Brutus had one
killed, and two slightly wounded.
The Experiment faded from Portsmouth on theist
of December, in company with the British grand fleet,
said to be bound on a cruize. Since her being captur
ed, in lat. 17. N. long. 54. W. file spoke with the
ship count de Graffe, from Newbury Port, —all well.
also with the privateer brig Fair American, from
New-London, which had taken a ship bound-to New-
York.
" Secondly, That the fame form of government be
granted unto them, which was formerly enjoyed by
Connect cut : excepting that the governor of the pro
vince should fr^m time to time, be nominated and ap
pointed by tie crown,
"Thirdly, T at they be allowed to remain neuter
during the prefect contefl, unless the war is carried
within their own territory.
" Fourthly, Tnat they would raise two battalions
properly officered for their internal defence. These
troops to be in British pay, &c. but not to be called
into service, unless in defence of the p ovince.
" Fifthly, That th~y e allowed a free trade to
Canada, an' be protested therein.
" These ,are all the particulars that could be obtained
resetting the terms held out by said cornrhiffoners :
the papers were delivered to general Haldiman, who
conceiving the matter of too important a nature for
him to decide upon, transmitted them to fir Henry
Clinton, as one of the king of Great-Britain's commit
fioners for refloring &c. by whom they were laid be
fore jufiice William Smith, who gave it as his opinion,
that the powers vested in the king's commissioners did
not authorise them to determine a matter of so much
consequence, and of so singular a nature: that as no
thing Ihort of an a& of parliament would be fufficient
for the purpof, the papers relating to this matter,
should be laid before the king in council, that the ne
cessary fleps may be taken, which has accordingly
been done, and the result is expeded.
We have just heard, that a vessel belonging to New
bury-Port, commanded by captain Calfe and bound
in there from the Weft-Indies, ran, afliare on Flumb
ifland beech, when eight of the people, by endeavour
ing to save themselves in the boat, were unfortunately
drowned. The remainder, three in number, by flay
ing on board, were happily preferred. Among the
drowned are, captain Calfe, who commanded the vessel,
and captain Jame&Barr, of this town. Both vessel and
cargo were finally saved. The surviving people, we
hear, give an account, that Brimstone kill having sur
rendered to the French forces, the whole island of St
Kitt's is now in the quiet peffeffion of our gallant and
victorious allies.
From some late English Papers, found on board the
,Prize Ship Experiment, we have taken the following
Advices.
" I am also informed, that Mr. , of the city
of New-York, who claims lands in Vermont, has it
in contemplation to go thither by the way o f Conneßi
cut : what tommiffion he may possibly be charged with
is not in my power to determine ; this however is cer
tain, that the enemy form great expert tions from the
apparent temper of Vermont."
The aforegoing are true copies of two affidavits,
and an extract of a letter, delivered to the legislature
of the Bate of New-York, with his excellency the go
vernor's message, at their prefect meeting : except as
to the names of certain persons and places mentioned in
the originals, which it would be improper to divulge,
and are therefore omitted in the copies.
Examined by
ROBERT BENSON, Secretary.
Poughkeepsie, Feb. 1782. (
Nov. 5. The young dauphin has been chriflened by
the name of Louis-Joseph Xavier-Francis. Immediate
ly after his being christened, he was created a knight
of the Holy Ghofl, and of the order of St Louis.——
According to the Paris Gazette, which should be au
thentic on this occasion, the queen was but two hours
in labour, and both her majecy and the young prince,
contrary to the accounts published is some of the mor
ning papers, are likely to do well.
" Though the duke de Crillon had transported t®
Marfailles a great number of Greeks and Jews, for
merly fettled in Minorca ; that nobleman hath, how
ever, detained some of the principal Jews as hostages,
for the payment of 100,000 piafires, which their nation
is indebted in the island, as well as for the confi ie a
ble damages which they have done t® the traed of Spain,
as the Jews were the principal persons concerned in
fitting out privateers from Mahon."
" On the 24th the enemy kept up a very hot and in
cessant fire, which killed five of our men and wounded
two ; they threw ina van quantity of fhelis,and set fire
to two houses."
Extraft of a letter from Lifoon, Sept. 22.
" The French cabinet are flrain ng every nerve to
-embroil this court in the present war. We have re^
monstrance after remon flrance to open this port to the
Americans. Several of the nobility have privately af
firmed, that it isfcarce possible for this court to escape
declaring for one fide or the ot er: if it should be a
gainst her old ally, England, which is very much a
gamfther interest, we shall all be sent home to vifi: our
friends."
The last mail brought over a number of letters from
Antwerp; among others the following is extracted
from one wrote by an English gentleman resident in that
city, to his correspondent in London:
Extras of a letter, dated Antwerp, Oft. tB.
" You have beard of a treaty going on between France
and Holland: my correspondent at Paris gives me no
tice of such a. contrast beiqg actually signed, which con
fills of a great number of articles; among others the
following are nearly the tenor thereof: A stipulation
of a mutual guarantee of the Dutch and,French domini
ons in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. A general
guarantee of the Dutch dominions abfolu ely held by
them at the tim p of signing. A private article refpe&-
ing America. A new tariff on the commerce between
the two powers. No other Sovereign state to be admit
ted to a participation of certain articles of this treaty.
The article of guarantee in be in force, and extend to
all possessions falling to the lot of either of the contract
ing powers at rhe time of a general peace. No treaty
entered into hereafter with with any power or powers
whatever, to affeft the full performance of this^reaty
by the contrasting powers. Six weeks to be allowed for
the exchanging the several ratifications, in order to
take away any suspicion of trifling ineither of the par
ties. Ope extra article is said to be, that France shall
forever oppose the erecting the republic of the States
General into a Monarchy. This last causes a variety
of (peculation."
On Tuesday and Wednesday 1,700,0001. was insured
atiLloyd's on the Dutch Eafl lodiamei), which were
staken by cornmodore johndone, and are daily expell
ed to arrive in Ergland.
An anonymous correfpondenf has sent us the follow
ing paragraph:
Nov. 3. Yeflerday morning captain Roberts, of the
Hyena frigate, arrived at the admiralty with dis
patches from Gibraltar, which were afterwards laid be
fore the king at St. James's by lord Sandwich. By
waat has transpired from the above, the fortrefs of
Gibraltar is perfectly secure from any attack which ir
is possible for the enemy to make on their works, and
the only difficulty experience! by the troops, is a
great Tcant ; nefs of frelh provisoes.
A potato , planted this season in lord Weymouth's
garden at 'Longleat, has produced 410, weighing 39
pounds arid a half . The potatoe was of the Bristol
ipecies, called Bristol Whites, and was planted whole
in abd of rotten oak-leaves.
ExtraD of a letter from Gibraltar, dated Augufl 26.
" I take the opportunity to inform you of some in
cidents which happened since I had last the pleasure
of writing to you. On the evening of the 20th inflant,
very unfortunately, a gun-boat of the enemy threw a
Ihell, which happened to fall on one.of our magazines
on New Mole-Point, which blew up with a very great
explosion, and killed 25 of the royal artillery.
“ On the 21st governor Elliott made a fuccefsful sal
ly, rfurprifed a party of the enemy, and set on fire a
large magazine of the .advanced guard of St. Roche,
and 32 of the enemy were blown up in it. The fire
communicated to another, but we hear did no damage,
as there were but few men near it.
.The (ecret and sudden departure of the British con
sul from Offend for the court ot London, occasions va
rious conjectures among the politicians at the English
hotel; the more knowing ones impute it to fomeover
teres from Paffey, made through the medium of the
celebrated Mrs. Wright, who, it is well known, was
lately in close conference with the consul. This con
jecture has been founded on fomefignificant hints drop
ped by him, previous to his departure, which has ope
rated amazingly on the sanguine expectations of the
inn-keepers of that place, who suppose the eventual
consequence will he a speedy peace.
The troops defined for the American reinforcement,
for thecampaigo of 1782, are not yet finally determin
ed on ; but it is agreed on all hands that it is meant to
be a considerable one ; some fay 20, but none estimate
it atlefs than 15,000
our batteries answered it with zeal and vivacity • and
it was observed that twice or thrice they set fire to
some fafcines, &c. of the enemy's emplacement, which
continued burning a long time, and did them much da
mage.
A Tartan which failed from Mahon on the 17th in
stant has brought from thence the following particu
lars:.
LEGHOR N, September 28.
LONDO N.