The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-06-05 00:00:00, page 2

RETURN of Guns, Mortars, Shot, Small-Arris and
Powder, taken in Pondicherry, >778.
Serviceable. 3 thirty fix pounders, 18 twenty-four ditto,
13 eighteen ditto, 30 twelve ditto, 60 eight ditto, 44
fix ditto, ii four ditto, 2 three ditto.
Unferviceable. 1 thirty fix pounder, 18 twenty four ditto,
3 eighteen ditto, 1 twelve ditto, 5 eight ditto, 1 four
ditto.
Total serviceable, 181
unferviceable, 29
BRASS GUNS.
Serviceable. 6 twelve pounders, 6 eight ditto, 1 fix
ditto, 18 four ditto, 4 three ditto, 2 two ditto, 18 one
ditto.
Unferviceable. 3 one pounders.
Total serviceable, 55
— unferviceable, 3
Howitzers. 6 three inch and half.
BRASS MORTARS.
Serviceable. 7 twelve inch, 5 eight ditto, 2 seven ditto, 4
fix ditto, 2 four ditto.
Total - _ - 20
IRON MORTARS.
Serviceacle. 2 twelve inch, 1 eight ditto.
Total - - - - 3
SMALL ARMS.
French mufquets and bayonets, - - 5934
Ditto without bayonets, - - 248
Rifle-barrel pieces, - - - 108
Walk pieces, - - - 60
Carbines, - - - 45
Pistols, - - • 556
Swords, - - - 93°
Gunpowder, 80 barrels, loolb. each.
Shot of different sizes, 21,708.
T. MANNOUNG,
Commissary of Stores.
Return oj ire killed and founded of the Companies troops,
at thefege of Pondicherry, 1778.
European officers, 8 killed, 27 wounded.
Ditto cavalry, 2 wounded.
Ditto artillery, 17 killed, 61 wounded.
Ditto infantry, 48 killed, 114 wounded.
S apoys, 148 killed, 482 wounded.
His Highness the Nabob's troops, three killed and seven
wounded.
Total 224 killed, 693 wounded.
(Signed) H. A. M. COSBY,
Adjutant-General.
The Company's troops consisted of 10,500, of which
1500 were Europeans.
Return of the killed and ^wounded in the garrison of Pondi
cherry, 1778. (nearly)
European officers, 7 killed, 19 wounded.
Regt, of Pondicherry, 45 killed, 143 wounded.
European artillery, 29 killed, 69 wounded.
Seapoys, 52 killed, 94 wounded.
Citizens, 3 killed, 7 wounded.
Black labourers, 64 killed, 148 wounded.
Total, 200 killed, 480 wounded.
The garrison of Pondicherry consisted nearly of 3000
men, of which 900 were Europeans.
Admiralty-Office, March 1,6, 1779.
Capt. George Young arrived this afternoon from the
East Indies, with dispatches from Commodore Sir Edward
Vernon, to Mr. Stephens, of which the following are co
pies.
[Duplicate ; the original not yet come to band.]
Rippon, off Madras, August 16, 1778.
SIR,
I SEND this to the Governor and Council of Fort St.
George, to be forwarded by the firft opportunity, to de
sire you will acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Ad
miralty, that I failed from Madras on the 29th past, with
his Majesty's ships Rippon, Coventry, Seahorse, and
Cormorant sloop, and Valentine and Glatton India ships.
On the 31st, finding the Glatton so bad a sailor, and ill
equipped, I ordered her back to Madras, and requested of
the Governor and Council another ship to replace her. On
the Bth in ftant at fix P. M. I appeared with the squadron
off Pondicherry, chafing a French frigate into the road.
At 8 A. M. aefcried from our mast head fix fail to the
S. W. which we flood for, but there being such light airs
ofwind, we could make nothing of them till the leth,
when at fix A. M. we law five fail bearing down upon us
in a regular line a-breast.—We flood for them, forming
our line a-head with the four ships, and at noon brought
to so, ready to receive them. At three quarters past noon
the breeze fhifting to the seaward, gave us the weather
gage, when I immediately made the signal to bear down
upon the enemy, who had formed upon the starboard tacks.
I intended forming our line on the larboard tack, till the
leading ship had stretched a breast of their rear, then to
have tacked and formed opposite the enemy's fliips, but
having so little wind, and the uncertainty of a continuance,
I thought it necessary to bring them to adion, which, at
3 quarters past two became general, and at times extreme
ly close. About three quarters past four, the enemy made
fail upon a wind to the S. W. having received great da
mage in our masts, fails, and rigging, I hauled to the N.
E. in hopes of securing the weather gage, to bring them
to action again the next morning. We were employed
the whole night and morning in reeving, splicing and
knotting our rigging, getting up a main-top fail yard and
fore-top mafl, the others being deflroyed. We flood to
the N. E. with light airs of wind untill midnight, and
then tacked to the S. W. but at day-light on the nth
eould fee nothing of the enemy. I have since used my ut
most endeavours to appear off Pondicherry again, but
from little winds, those Southerly, with a firong northern
current, have been prevented. Their Lordfllips may be
assured I will loose no time in attaining it, and if I can
meet with the enemy, to bring them to a decisive battle,
winds and weather permitting. The ships we engaged
were the Brilliante, of 64 guns, Pourvoyeufe, of 36 eigh
teen pounders, the Sartine, of 32 guns, and two of their
country ships armed as ours, whom I am just now inform
ed got into Pendicherry road the evening ®f the a&ion, to
refit. The Befborough India fllip, which the Governor
and Council of Fort St. George had ordered to replace the
Glatton, joined me the 14th. Herewith you have a lift
of the killed and wounded, on board the ships under my
command, ia the action of the noth.
I hope my proceedings will meet their Lordship's ap
probation, and am, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
B. VERNON,
killed. wounded.
Rippon, 4 15
Coventry, 1 20
Seahorse, 3 5
Va'entine, India ship, 2,
Cormorant sloop, 1 4
Total 11 53
,E. VERNON.
Philip Stephens, Esquire, Secretary
of the Admiralty.
Madras, October, 31, 1778.
I A M to acquaint you, for the information of the
Right Hon. the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty,
that I wrote to you on the 16th of August by the Valen
tine, (a duplicate of which I herewith enclose) and that
the winds and currents prevented me regaining my Ration
until the 20th at midnight, when I anchored between Pon
dicherry and Cuddalore : about four o'clock in the morn
ing of the 21 ft, upon fight of a flrange fail handing in to
the squadron, I made the signal, weighed and gave chace;
at day-light, saw the chace had French colours hoifled,
which, on a few fllot being fired at her from the Rippon
and Seahorse, were struck ; she proved to bg the Amiable,
Nanuet, from Rochelle, and L'Orient, last from the Mau
ritus, for Pondicherry, in ballafl. At the fame time I
could fee the French squadron under way in Pondicherry
road, handing te the N. E. under an easy fail ; but the
land breeze failing me before I could get near enough to
the enemy to engage, and the sea breeze not setting in be
fore five o'clock in the afternoon, and then so very faintly
as hardly to keep the fliips under command, which, with
night drawing on, induced me to drop all thoughts es
bringing them to action until the next morning, I then
flood in for Pondicherry road, and came to an anchor,
expecting the French squadron would do the fame, as they
shewed no design of going off ; but when day-light appear
ed could fee nothing of them, nor have they ever looked
near Pondicherry fibice that day. On the 2 §th at day break,
saw a Grange fail very near us Handing in for Pondicherry,
upon which I made the Coventry and Seahorfe's signal to
weigh and chace her, who immediately flood out to sea,
with all the fail she could crowd ; and to prevent losing
company with the frigates, I weighed and flood out after
them ; about half past eleven o'clock A. M. saw the Sea
horse engaged with the chace, who soon after firuck, and
proved to be the Sartine frigate, one of Mons. Tronjolly's
squadron, who had joft company a few days before in
chace. She is a fine ship, only two years old, and a prime
sailor; had, when she was taken, only 26 nine pounders
mounted, but as she is a larger fcantling than any of our
32 gun frigates, I purpose if war is declared, ordering the
naval florekeeper to purchase her for his Majeßy's service.
From that time I closely blocked up the road of Pondi
cherry. On the 18th of September our batteries on fliore
were opened against the works of the town, upon which
they continued to play until the 16th instant in the morn
ing, when (every thing being ready for a general assault
that night, having at General Munro's request, previously
landed 260 men from the squadron to assist in the attack)
M. Bellecombe thought proper to fend out aflag of truce,
offering to capitulate, upon which hostilities cea fed on both
sides ; and I have the pleasure to acqu int their Lordships,
that articles of capitulation were signed on the 17th, and
our troops put in possession of the town accordingly. Dur
ing the siege, the ships of the squadron took three other
small vessels bound to Pondicherry.
I cannot omit mentioning to their Lordships the assidui
ty with which the Governor, General and Council of Ben
gal fitted out and armed two ships, mounted with 40 guns
each, who joined me on the IRinftant, and are now anting
under my orders ; as atfo the zeal shewn for the public ser
vice by the President and Council of Fort St. George, in
so readily reinforcing the squadron under my command
with three of the Company's European ships armed, which
oh the reduction of Pondicherry, I dismissed, that they
may proceed or their refpeßive voyages. I have further
the pleasure to acquaint their Lordfllips, that the greatest
harmony and good understanding has subsisted between
the army and navy during the whole of this campaign.
I have appointed Capt. Marlow, of the Coventry, to be
Captain of the Rippon, in the room of Capt. Young, whom
I have thought a proper person to take charge of my dis
patches for their Lordfllips, and his Majefly's Secretary
of State.
I beg leave to recommend Capt. Young to their Lord
ship's notice, and to refer t em to him for any further
particulars they wish to be informed of refpefting the oper
ations of this last campaign in India.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
E. VERNON.
Philip Stephens, Esquire, Secretary
to the Admiralty.
PHILADELPHIA.
Extracts from the Journals of CONGRESS,
Monday, April 19, 1779.
A MEMORIAL from sundry inhabitants of the
. Island of Bermuda was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee of three ;
The Members chosen, Mr. Ellery, Mr. Fell, and Mr.
Laurens, who are directed to report with all convenient
speed.
A letter es the 15th from the Board of War was read;
whereupon
Refolded, That whensoever a Colonel in the army of
the United States shall command a brigade of the troops of
these States in the absence of a Brigadier, he shall be per
mitted to draw fix rations in addition to the one be draws
as Colonel, in consideration of the extra expence he is
fubjefled to by such command.
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the Treasurer in fa
vour of John Beatty, Esquire, Commissary General of
Prisoners, for 50,000 dollars in specie, for the me of his
department, he to be accountable.
April 21. A motion was made by Mr. R. H. Lee, fe
corded by Mr. Carmichael, “ Tnat the doors of Con
gress be open during the fitting es Congress, except when
they shall be directed to be shut in consideration of the
fubjed to be debated being of such a nature as that in the
judgment of Congress the fame for a time ought to be kep:
secret :"
Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee of five:
The Members chosen, Mr. R. II Lee, Mr. Laurens,
Mr. Ellery, Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. Lovell.
April 23. A letter from Leon rd Albony was read,
soliciting an answer to the memorial from the inhabitants
of Bermuda, on which the Committee to whom the me
morial was referred reported as follows :
“ That they have examined the laid memorial, and
conversed with Captain Aibouy, the bearer thereof:
<' Thatit appears to your Committee that the inhabi
tants of Bermuda are in deep difl refs for want of provisi
ons; that the Virginia and Galatea ships of war are Ra
tioned at Bermuda; that it is garrisoned by &ritifh sol
diers, and that it is not altogether certain that any provi
sions Captain Albouy may be permitted to export will go
to the reief of the Bermudians; therefore the Committee
are of opinion,
" That so long as Bermuda shall continue to be guard
ed by British fliips and garrisoned by British soldiers, how
powerfully soever humanity may plead in their behalf, and
the disposition of Congress incline them to relieve the
distresses of Bermuda, yet found policy and the duty they
owe to their eonflituents, will confiram them to refufe a
compliance with the request of the memoriahfis."
On the queflion to agree with the report of the Com
mittee, the yeas and nays being required by Mr Jay, the
States were equally divided.
Ordered, That the report with the memorial be re com
mitted.
May 4. A letter from his MoR Christian Majefly,
undersigned de Vergennes, was read, informing Congress
of the kirth of a Princess; whereupon
Refolded, That the President, with a Committee con
sisting of a Member from each State, wait on the Minister
Plenipotentiary of France, and congratulate him on this
event ;
The Members chosen, Mr. Whipple, Mr. S. Adams,
Mr. Ellery, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Duane, Mr. Wither
spoon, Mr. Armftreng, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Plater,
Mr. Smith; Mr. Penn, and Mr. Laurens.
Refobued, That a Committee of three be appointed to
prepare the draught of a letter in anfwerto that from
his MoR Chriflian Majeßy;
The Members chosen, Mr. Jay, Mr. Morris, and Mr.
Witherspoon.
Ma, 7. A memorial from Leonard Albouy, Joseph
Bafden and Nathaniel Pruddep, was read; whereupon
Congress resumed the consideration of rhe report of the.
Committee to whom the memorial of divers inhabitants of
the Ifiands of Bermudas, dated the 20th of March, 1779,
was recommitted; wherein they represent,
" That from a re-cohfideration of the deplorable cir
cumstances of these unhappy jaerfons, who are deprived,
as it hath been represented to your Committee, of the
means of supplying themselves with bread, which are al
lowed to other inhabitants who openly profefs their attach
ment to the enemies of these States, they are of opinion,
that it be recommended to the Executive Powers of the
States of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,
and North-Carolina, refpeßively to permit 10^0 bufheld
of Indian corn to be exported from each of the said States
for the relief of the dißreffed inhabitants of those islands."
To which a fubßitute was moved by Mr. Burke, se
conded by Mr. Morris, in the following word's :
That the memori Rifts be informed, that Congress deem
it highly inexpedient to grant the prayer of their memo
rial.
On the queflion for adopting the fubflitute, the yeas
and nays being required by Mr. Jay, the fubflitute was
adopted.
May io. A letter of the 7th from General Washing
ton was read, inclofing an extraftof a letter from General
Schuyler, with an account of Colonel Van Schaick's expe.
dition against Onondaga.
Refolded, That the thanks of Congress be presented to
Colonel Van Schaick and the officers and soldiers under
his command, for their activity and good conduct in the
late expedition against the Onondagas.
Mu, it. A letter of this day from Brigadier du Por
tail was read ; whereupon
Congress taking into consideration a report from the
Board of War relative to the corps of Sappers and Miners:
Refolded, That the pay and fubfiftance of the engineers
and of the officers and men of the companies of Sappers
and Miners, shall be the fame with those of officers of the
like ranks and of the men in the artillery of these Status :
That Brigadier General du Portail be appointed Com
mandant of the corps of engineers and companies of Sap
pers and Miners.
A letter of the reth from Gustavus Rifherg, Deputy
Commissary General of Issues, was read; whereupon
Congress taking into consideration a report of the Board
of War relative to the Deputy Commissaries of Issues, and
a report relative to the officers in the department of the
Quarter-Master-General;
Refolded, That the pay of two hundred dollars per
month be allowed to the Deputy Commissaries General of
Issues, to commence from the firft day of January last :
That the Assistant Commissaries of Issues at every maga
zine, post or brigade of the army, be allowed ninety dol
lars per month ; and the Clerks of 'he Commissary General
and Deputy Commissary General of Issues, the sum of
eighty dollars per month :
That the Clerks of the Brigade Commissaries and those
at polls and magazines, be allowed fifty dollars per
month ; but no such Clerk to be employed where the dai
ly issues do not equal four hundred rations:
Tnat a Clerk of the scales be allowed thirty-five dollars
per months
That every Deputy Commissary General of Issues be in
titled to forage for two horses:
That every Brigade Commissary be intitled to forage,
for one horse; and whensoever the duty of the depart
ment requires the Commissaries At posts and magazines to
travel, the Quarter-Mafler at the post shall furnifh an
horse for the occasion:
When the duty ®f an Assistant Commissary absolutely
requires that he Ihould travel, he shall be allowed three
dollars for every day he shall so necessarily travel, for and
towards his cxpences on the journey :
That the Deputy Commissary General of Issues shall
once in fix months visit all the magazines, posts and