The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-11-09 00:00:00, page 2

'Of Orthography wKhotif^ENsE, and Sense with
out Orthography.
Addr^ffed to the Author of a Criticism on Spelling,
in one of last Tuesday's papers.
Juftitiae partes funt non violate homines verecundiae
non offendere.
TH A T orthography is a criterion of learning, is a
rite, which no man can deny; but that one may
be a learned and ufeful member of society, without
modern orthography, is a fad equally true. To prove
this jpofcion, let any man of learning advert to the
principles of our language, cr the different languages
from whence it is derived, and he will find, that there
is no certain, invariable and precise flandard, either for
speaking or writing it, as a few (out of many) inflan
ces will plainly evince, for example, until some (hort
time ago, it was the custom amongst the best writers,
to use two superlatives inßead of one, as most highest,
most better, moll hanfomeft, &c. &c. And although
that mode of expression is now disused by many, and
thought to be unhafmonious to the ear, nevertheless
it is grammar, and English.
The innovations made in our language, and ortho
graphy, by that arch compiler of bombafl and ever
memorable pedant, doftor Johnflon, have been great
ly injurious, as the author of Lexiphanes most hu
mouroufly displays in th t work. So that if the great
men of tne lad age were to be now amongst us, they
would neither write, nor speak, to be understood, ac
cording to the flandard of modern refinement.
The critic above alluded to, withes to give us an un
favourable impression of every man who does not (peak,
or write, accoiding to the newest coinage; and wi h
out adverting to the foundation of either the ancieat,
or modern principles, wantonly and impudently ob
trudes his judgment, as final and conclusive. He pro
duces in the public prints the copy of a little note,
wrote in the hour of hurry, or indifference; wherein
he finds a few inaccuracies in the orthography, though
none in either the stile, sense, or connexion, from which
wonderful difeovery, he would have us believe, that
the cardefs writer, is, or ought to be absolutely ex
pelled from all society, and that he, as the champion
of good Spelling, should be raised upon the ruins of
this unfortunate man's reputation.
I would ask this bold scholar how long he has been
in possession of the paper he now exhibits! and why
he did not publish it before? Was it because the spi
rit of envy bad not been fufficientl y powerful. Or
that this was the best time to injure his neighbour,
and thereby (hamefully and scandalously serve him
felf These are base efforts to acquire fame! an honest
man a man of honour, religion or virtue, could never
sloop to a prostitution so glaringly subversive of eve
ry sentiment which defines the character of a good ci
tizen and a man of honour —not to mention the un
warrantable fligma he throws upon all men of fafhion,
from his royal highness the duke of Cumberland (the
patron of learning) down to the most fafhionable of
our own legislators, in afftmbly, and congress, whom
God bless and prosper whether they ever knew a letter
in the alphabet or not.
Nov 6. A Detefler of all envious Productions.
TO those who have ever walked in the paths of ho
nour and honefly, and who have hears capable of
feeling featiments of humanity and benevolence, the fol
.lowing anecdote (which happened a few days pafl)jwill
not be unacceptable;
About thirty years part, a gentleman in the neigh
bourhood of Baltimore Town, redeemed an old Ger
man, his wife, and. family. They served him three
years, and afterwards moved a considerable d fiance
back, and procured a plantation for themselves. The
gentleman is since dead ; and his widow, the other day,
was surprised at the appearance of the old German,
who, the supposed, had also paid the debt of nature.
His d efs was neat and clean as can be imagined, his
hair hung in silver ringlets about his neck, and his beard
more white than (now, fell down his declining bosom;
a ftaff.fupporited his tottering trembling limbs (for
length of 'years had bowed him almost to tne ground)
and his/palfed tongue scarcely articulated the words
he attempted to f peak:“ lam come,myold mirtrefs,"
fays he, " to make you reflitution for an rjuftice I
did you while I was your (ervant," (at the fame time
presenting a purse of, money in one hand, and a brown
loaf in the dthef) " tills money" he added "is what I
defrauded you oftwenty-eight years past, and now I
restore it to you 'again ; and this loaf my wife fends
to you, begging that you would olice more eat of her
bread, which, %her frys, you always loved while (he
lived with you.'"' Struck with the appearance, uncom
mon addrefs',and bonefly of the man, the lady at
firft had not power to answer; but soon recollecting
herfelf, " I accept with pleasure," fays she, “ of the
loaf, and will eat of it ; but the money you must keep
as a reward for that integrity of which you seem at
prefear possessed." As fobn asihe money was refufed
the old man appeared to be ass Red with the most vi
olent grief: ' I have come," . exclaimed he, in the
true genuine language of sincerity, ( while tears of con
trition, gratitude, and real sensibility poured down
his furrowed cheeks)“ I have come an hundred miles
to reflore this money to you ; I was'afraid that you
wasd ad, cut, about two miles off, hearing that you
was fttll al : ve, my heart leaped within me for joy, and
1 once again fora moment, felt the vigour of youth:
I ave got enough, my family are happy, and have
all thty wish for; the taking this money from you is
the only badaftion my conscience accuses me of; and
do not; oh ! do not refufe to receive it back again; for
if T carry it home again, my grey hairs will godown
with furrow to the grave!" 1
Let those whose hardened hearts have never been
melted by the tears of the wretched and distressed, tafle
of this po r old man'sloaf, and try if they cannot
difeover the sweetness of it ; but more particularly, let
those who have deprived the orphan of the means of
fubfiftance, reflea upon his honefly and the reflitution
he made-, and while they have it in their power, fol
low his example ; for, unless that is done, their grey
hairs, as he said, must go down with sorrow 2nd infa
my to the grave. Oft. 25. AGRESTIS.
From the MARYLAND JOURNAL.
Foreign Intelligence.
MADRI D, Auguftg-
We are informed that the demolition of Mahon will
be entirely compleated during this month, the court
having given the most precise orders for that purpose;
Nothing i s to be preserved but fort St. Charles and
fort rhilipet.
L ONDO N.
Aug. 24. Lord Howe has given it as his decided o
pinion, tnat with 36 fail of the line, well manned, he
would be able to effect the relief of Gibraltar, Should
it even be inverted by the combined squadron of France
and Spain.
It is allowed on all hands, that lord Shelbure has
taken the helm at a period pregnant with the mort im
portant consequences ; at a time when the very exif
tepee of tne nation depends upon the wisdom and vi
gorous exertions of i^s firft minister. If therefore bis
lordihip pursues the plan of his worthy patron, lord
Chatham and fortunately carries us through the pre
fect storm, it may then be justly Lid, that he has con
quered the combined powers of France, Spain, Hol
land and America.
The drafts from Hanover have been so great during
the war, that in many parts of that electorate, hus
bandry has been greatly negleded.
Many of the Dutch (hips have now got imperial
passports, by which protection they fail with security
to all the inlands in the Wert Indies, and many parts
of America.
It is whispered that the earl of Shelburne has a plan
in agitation, which will bring im government an an
nual revenue of 80,000 b It concerns trade, being on
a footing, whereby the merchants will be much bene
fited.
It is generally believed, that lord Howe will have
orders to detach ten line of battle (hips for the Wert-
Indies, immediately after he has relieved the garrison
of Gibraltar; which force, united with that under
admiral Pigot, must, no doubt, regain our possessions
in that p rt. If the latter should have orders to car
ry the troops with him from New York, when he re
turns to the windward flation, it is not'unlikely but
Martinico or Guadaloupe will fall into our hands ; the
conquest of either would soon make the French sue for
peace, and the smaller islands would of course become
fubje& to the Britifli government.
The following is the exa& dimensions of the Ville
de Paris, as given by the mailer carpenter of the
vessel:
Length of her keel 150 feet extreme.
Breadth 48
On the firft deck 15 —36 pounders.'
second ditto 16 —26 ditto,
third ditto 16—12 ditto.
47
On both sides 94 guns.
The length of her main-mart 126 feet.
The foremart 113 feet.
And the mizen 84 feet.
It is to be observed, that a French foot is 12 inches
3-4th, so that her keel is about 160 feet, and her other
parts in proportion.
Lord Shelburne's official conduct is so clear, so flea
dy, so uniform, his views so evidently directed to the
honour, fafety and happiness of his country , his poli
tical knowledge is so extensive, his talents for business
are so strong, his penetration is so keen, and his conflan
cy and equanimity are so little liable to be weakened or
disturbed by little fortuitous occurrences, that very
high expectations may be fafely entertained, from the
wifd in and integrity of his administration, the ene
mies of which will be left in the solitary paroxysms, dis
appointment and vexation, to exclaim,
" In mea vefanas habui difpendia vire,
'' Et valui poenas fortis in ipfe meas."
Extraft of a letter from Dublin.
“ Those who charg the political doctrines of the earl
of Ba'lamont and Mr. Flood, with faaious or indited
principles, only betray their own fallacy, or folly. The
evident wishes of those distinguished charaders being
but to eff & a lasting participation of conittutional
freedom, by preventing, if possible, any future idea of
monopoly. They behold, with a judicious terror, the
fatal cons quences t at must inevitably follow, a
breach of that flimfy conftrußive security, with which
a part of the people have been gulled; and mean, if
possible, to preserve poflerity from the miseries of such
events. Great dependence may,.nodoubt, be had up
on the present minifiry and parliament of Great-hritain ;
but where or what, is our indemnity for their fuccef-'
fors? While the principle of legislation remains unre
nounced may they not laugh at our credulity, and
fay—'What is it, because we favoured you with the
repeal and modification of a few objectionable laws,
that you would invade our reftrved right of power :
or is it because you were weak enough to conftruH our
kindness into folly, we (hall be bound by ucn construc
tion. Certainly not! Our predecessors retained the
principle in a day of national dirtrefs and imbecili
ty, which now, in a day of strength and prosperity,
we will enforce. Under the conftrudion of the idolirts
of Mr. Grattan, what would be the security of our
freedom ?"
Lift of the Besiegers of Gibraltar.
We have been favoured with the following account
of the whole force employed to reduce Gibraltar, the
regular fige and firings against which are supposed to
have commenced on Sunday last for the honour of St.
Louis, and the catholic faith, as returned the 24th of
June last.
Officers. Men.
Regiment of Leon, - 167 1,320
Ditto, Grenada, - - 86 980
• 2 ditto, Irilh brigade, - 308 2,440
2 Regiments Walloon, - 264 1,866
4 Regiments, Independents, 438 3 260
2 Drrgobns, dismounted, 269 1,576
I Chaffeurs of Murcia, - 132 865
I ditto of Alcantars, - 83 741
I ditto of Swiss del Soubife, - 64 637
That, on the 9th of February, the (hips under cap
tain Aims, with general Meadows, colonel Fullarton,
and 400 soldiers arrived at Fort St. George. That,
on the 14th at night, the French fleet,anchored three
leagues to windward of Fort St. George ; and in the
morning of the 15th they got under way, and advanced
under an easy fail, and in order of battle. About
two P M. they bore away ; and at four our admiral
made the signal for weighing, and the enemy law his
squadron under way following before fun set. The
admiral difpached the Monmouth, Isis and Seahorse,
in pursuit of the French transports. The Isis took the
Laurirton, of about 1300 tons; having on board seve
ral officers, near two hundred soldiers, with a most
complete and Very large quantity of artillery, and
other military flores, with 150,000 lb. of powder :
this transport got (afe into the road. The Isis, after
cleaning the Laurirtoi fwith much dispatch, was close
upon two other transports, one of which had Bruck
to her, but was not taken possession of when the sig
nal for calling in cruisers, and forming the line of bat
tle, was made from the Su perbe, and the three cruising
fyips joined the squadron. On the 17th fir Edward
Hughes formed the line of battle; the van confided
of the Eagle, Monmouth, Worcefler and Burford,
t e Superbe in the center ; and the Hero, Exeter, Mo
narca and Isis in the rear- M Suffrein led the van of
his own (hips ; but instead of leading up his line to the
van of ours, he flopped short at our admiral's ship, fol
lowed by seven more, which supported him, and also
engaged with the four fternmort of ours, but carefully
avoided a close a&ion. This attack was chiefly dire&-
ed at the Superbe and Exeter, the admiral's and com
modore's (hips ; each had two, and the commodore
had (ometimes three of them to deal with.
The Exeter was in imminent danger of falling
into the enemy's hands, till captain Gell, in the
Monarca, came to her affiance, and poured such an
ipceffant force of fire into the ship that was engaged
with her, as does a great deal of honour to himfelf, his
officers and people. By this manoeuvre of M Suffrein
our four excellent fhips,.w!'h their tried commanders,
in the van, were rendered totally useless ; and yetrit
does not seem that he gained any other advantage
than saving his own force entire. After an engage
ment of upwards of two hour , the enemy ceased fir
ing, and hauled off after their transports. What da
mages they fu flained does not seem to be exactly
known, though by the account of four seamen, who
were trfken in the Hannibal, and made their escape
from :.M. Suffrein,s fllip, it appears, that the French
fleet had frittered much, the Hero and Hannibal in par
ticular, received a great deal of damage in their hulls,
as well as their masts and rigging. That the Hero
had 60 a en killed, and a much greater number wound
ed; and that another 74 gun (hip loft as many, befides'
her captain.—Our loss in this engagement is captain
Stevens of the Superbe, and captain Reynolds of the
Exeter, with -two officers of the 90t^ regiment, and
32 killed ; two officers of the Superbe, and two offi
cers of the Exeter, with 95 wounded, chiefly belc ,
3 Regiments milith, ^ 637 264,
1 Regiment de Crillon, - 3 i 7 i, 420
2 Battalions body guards, - 430 1,865
2 ditto Artillery, - - - 367 1,433
7 Regiments Provincale. - >,347 6,342
French Auxiliaries.
Regiment de Languedoc, 89 r
Ditto de Guienne, - 64
Ditto de Rouffillon, - | O 6 122?
Ditto artillery 103
Ditto d'Artois, . 267 i, 43 6
Ditto Province, - 137 1,173
5, 6 75 34,217
Nothing, fays a correspondent, could have induced
governor Elliot to permit the Spaniards to raise the
number of seemingly formidable works, and make the
near approaches to the British lines they have done,
were he not convinced that it is in his power to demo
lish them at pleasure. Like an able veteran, he has,
by this delusion, kept the Spanish army fully employ
ed railing useless fabrics, which, by half a day's can
nonading, can be levelled with the ground.
Sept. 6. Gibraltar will assuredly produce a most obsti
nate conflict; for to maintain possession of a place of such
consequence, every effort will be exert d on the part
of England, and the conflitutional pride of the Spani
ards will prompt them to employ every possible means
for succeeding in an exploit, on which they have al
ready lavished such enormous wealth, besides weaken,
ing theif force in other quarters, for the fake of cob
leding a tremendous army at St. Roch. The great
number of the Spanish nobility who are now in the
capacity of volunteers before Gibraltar, is another
reason to suppose they will strive hard for vi&ory, and
therefore it behoves our ministry to fend against them
an armament that may oppose these amb tious inva
ders upon something like terms of equality.—Should
the arms of England prevail in this truly important
controversy, the pride of Spain will be more mortify- •
ingly humiliated than by any mifearriage that trea
cherous people have yerexperfenced.
The diving bell for the surgeon of an India ship to
go down on board the Royal George, is a large veffe[
or kind of calk, so loaded with lead as to link when
empty, with tne mouth downwards. In the top is fix
ed a cock to let out the air, and a strong pane of glass
to afford light to the divers, and by them received into
the cavity of the great bell, for the purpose of expell
ing the water, which enters as the preffur e condenses
the included air. After it has arrived at tne bottom
of the sea, they continue by the fame means to reple
nifll the air which becomes foul by breathing, I tting
the impure air escape by the cock in the upper part,
as they receive frefh air by the barrels or small belli,
by which contrivance they can remain under water as
long as they please.
EAST-INDIA HOUS E, August 28, 1782.
William Horney, enquire, governor of Bombay, in
a letter dated April 20 1782, has transmitted to the
court of directors the following intelligence, which he
received from various accounts collected from the other
fide of India ;