The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-01-30 00:00:00, page 2

property destroyed; inßead of which, remaining peace
ably in their houses, and delivering their arms and am
munition wnen required, and behaving with propriety,
in return for the lenity ihewn them ; they shall be perfect
ly fecufe, and paid for whatever shall be wanted for the
King's Service.
Given under my hand at Head Quarters,
Signed, A. PREVOST,
Comminder of his Majefly's
troops in the Floridas.
Poftfeript to Colonel White's letter to Governor Houston,
dated November 8, i,;B.
“ The within Pro lamation accompanied Col. Prevoft's
answer to my letter, by an officer with a flag, who attended
Major Haberlham on his return. I gave a short, verbal
answer by the officer, to this purpose, " That as we to
“ tally disagreed in political principles, and as a Soldier,
“ I had nothing to do with the affai s of legislation
“ therefore Should Submit the matter to a decision in the
" fielda " , ~ ,
In the morning of the xcth of November Colonel John
M'lntofh, commanding officer in Fort Morris, received
the following from Lieut Col. Fufer, commanding a body
of British troops, who had the night before taken pos
session of the upper end of the town of Sunbury.
Sunbury, Nov. 25, 1778. 8 o'clock in the morning.
STR,
YOU cannot be ignorant that four armies are in motion
" to reduce this province: the one is already under the
guns of your fort, and may be joined when I think proper
by Col. Prevoft, who is now at the Meeting-house. The
refiftarice you can or intend to make, will on y bring de
flrudion Upon this country. Ou the contrary, if you de 4
liver me the fort which you command, lay down your
arms, and remain neuter until the fate of America is deter
mined, yon shall, as well as all the inhabitants of this pa
rish, remain in the peaceable puffed on of your p operty,
Your answer, which I exped in an hour's time, will de
termine the fate of this country, whether it is to be laid in
aches or remain as above prepofed.
I am, Sir, your most obedient, &c.
L. V. FUSER, Col. 60th regiment, and
Commander of his Majesty's troops in
To Georgia, on his Majefly's Service.
Captain Thomas Morris,
Commander of the fort in Sunbu/%
On the Outfide —
P S. Since this letter is closed, Some of your people
have been firing Scattering Shot about the town. lam to
inform y>u, that if a flop is not put to such irregular pro
ceedings, I Shall burn a house for every Shot so fired.
This letter was brought into the fort by Major Lane,
who Soon returned with the following answer, which he
delivered to Col. Fufer.
Fort Morris, Nov. 25, 1778.
SIR, -
WE acknowledge we are not ignorant that your army
is in motion to endeavour to reduce this ft^te: we
believe it entirely chimerical that Colonel Prevoft is at the
Mecting-houfe; but Should it be so, we are in no degree
apprehensive es dan er from a junction of his army with
yours. We have no property, compared with the object
we contend for, tht we value a rulh, and would rather
perißi in a vigorous defence than accept of your proposals.
We, Sir, are fighting the battle of America, and there
fore disdain to remain neuter till its fate is determined. —
As to Surrendering the fort, receive this laconic reply--
COME AND TAKE IT.
Major Lane, whom I fend /with this letter, is directed
to Satisfy you with refpeH to the irregular loose firing,
mentioned on the back of your letter.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obed ent, &c.
JOHN M'INTOS H, Lieutenant Colonel
of the Continental troops.
Lieut. Col. L. V. Fuser,
Of his Eritannic Maefty's troops in Georgia.
About half past eleven o'clock, A. M. Major Lane re
turned, after having Signified to Col. Fufer that the loose
firing complained of was intended to prevent the British
troops from plundering the town ; and as to his threaten
ing to burn a house for every Shot, the Major remonstrated
to Col. Fufer, that such a proceeding would be rather Sa
vage and inhuman ; but if he was determined to do it---
in order to convince them how little we were to be deterred
by such threats, as Soon as he burnt a house at one end of
the town, we would apply a torch to the other, and let
the slimes meet in the center by a mutual conflagration.
CHARLES-TOWN, (South-Carolina,) December 2.
Since the receipt of the foregoing particulars, we learn,
that the enemy have as suddenly abandoned the slate of
Georgia as they invaded it, and retired into East Florida.
That"their huffy retreat was occasioned by an express sent
to Col. Prevoft, advising him of a naval and land force
coming againß him from hence, who might cut off his re
treat ; and by the sudden appearance of some vessels, at the
fame time, offSunbury, winch they apprehended to be our
fleet : But that, previous to their going off, they had sent
away near 1000 head of cattle, fame Sheep, about 300 hor
ses, zoo negroes, and other plunder. '1 hat altho' the ene
my had destroyed almost every thing in their way, with
in a mile of each fide of the road south of Ogeachie, yet
many buildings and other property, supposed to have been
burnt and destroyed, were after their departure, found un
touched : And that Col. Prevoft had, in Several instances,
Shewn that humanity and generosity for which British of.
ficers were formerly diflinguiflied That the land force
which came against Georgia, confined ot 86 regulars and
about 500 Scofelites and rangers in one body, who enter
ed the country at Fort Howe, and marched on by land,
under Col. Prevoft ; while between 4 and 500 regulars,
in another body, commanded by Col. Fufer, landed up
on Colonel's island near Sunbury, fordable at low-water,
and marched into that town. That the enemy's naval
force confided of no more than the Ship Lord Germaine of
20 guns (2 and g-pounders) the brig Spitfire of 16 the
Stoop Mufquito of to, the Sloop Tonyn's Revengeof 8, a
large galley with two 12 or 18 pounders in her bow, a large
flat, and a number ®f boats, &e most of them mounting
jor 2 swivels, and enerally lay at St Simon's inlet. And
that, after Col. Fufer withdrew from Sunbury, the two
bodies joined at Newport ferry, where they intrenched,
two cover and give time to their hunters to get off with the
cattle, and when that was accomplished they followed.
A great variety of conjectures having be@h formed con
cerning this expedition, we Shall give our readers a few of
them. One is, That they came only to forage : Ano
ther, That it was undertaken merely to pacify the cla
mours of the difeontented Scofelites, by giving them an
opportunity to plunder, 'til thegrand Scheme in which it
was intended to employ them Should be ripe: Another,
That they had Some more extensive objed in view, and
a part of their plan had failed them ; perhaps their Scalp
ing brethren and the numerous bands of Tories they ex
pelled to co operate with them, did not appear at the
time appointed : Another, that it was a project, to flop
the sale of estates of attainted persons and endeavour te
get off their Slaves : Another, that tne enemy were impel
led, by the want of a Sufficient Supply cf provisions, and
the consequent dread of a famine, to rilk their whole
Strength to procure cattle. But the opinion that seems to
be most probable, is.the following : That the late expe
dition is only part of one, long since projected by that
restless, artful, Specious and aspiring dJerter and betray
er of his country, the well-known Moses Kirkland,
improved by Governor Tonyn, the Indian agent, and Ge
nera! Grant, for the gonqueft of these Southern States,
with a view to shire the fpo 1 amongst them, and with the
Loyal Refugees, as they Shle themselves, who during
the present glorious contelt, have basely deserted their
country, and put themfylves under the protection of the
British generals at New-York. That General Sir Henry
Clinton, when convinced by experience that it would not
be possible for all the force of Britain to subjugate America,
Ending these people both troublesome and erfpenfive, wil
ling to get rid of them as decently as possible, and desirous
at the fame time to prevent an increase of pensioners on
the British government, at lad so far adopted Mr. Kirk
land's plan, as to form them into regiments, furnilh them
with arms, and the means for an embarkation and invasi
on of these ftatss, with full liberty to Spread devastation
and ruin to the extent of their inclination and ability, and
a promise, if they can conquer, of the best plantations &
most valuable gangs of Slaves, in proportion as they Shall
diftinguifli themselves, together with a government on the
Britilh establishment, and such officers (rom among them
selves) as the king Shall be pleased toappreve of. That to
forward these purposes, orders have been sent to the troops
and banditti in Eaft-Elorida, to make a rapid incursion
into Georgia at a fixed perio I, for securing the most ad
vantageous posts to favour future operations ; and to the
Indian Superintendent, at the fame time, to pour the Sa
vage Allies of Britain, with all the horrors of their war
fare, into the heart of the Settlements, under the guidance
of Richard Pearis, &c. while the emissaries of Britain,
dispersed through these Slates under a variety of d fguifes,
from the ea flern there of Maryland quite to Florida, Should
prepare the ignorant, and the wicked outcasts of each, to
repair to their standard : But, that the E ^-Floridians,
too eager to carry their part of the plan into execution,
had penetrated into the country rather precipitately ; be
ing, perhaps, deceived by their reliance on the Indians,
and the Tory embarkation providentially delayed, dis
persed by a Rorm, or prevented by the unexpected news
of the Marquis de Bouille's operations in the Weft Indies.
Be these conjectures well founded or not, it certainly be
hoves us to be Spiritedly aCtive, and thoroughly guarded,
aganft every possible ev ; l that may be brought upon us,
by our declared or infinitely more dangerous concealed
enemies.
Nov. 2s. Monday and Tuesday next are the days on
which we are to eleCt Senators and Members of the House
of Representatives, under the new Constitution, to Serve
for two years--- when, it is hoped, every friend to so
glorious an establishment, who has a right to vote, v ill
give that attention which is due to so important an object,
and exerrife his own judgment, uninfluenced in bis choice
by any ot er consideration than who will most ably, dis
interestedly, diligently and faithfully Serve his country.
BOSTO N, January 14.
Extract of a letter from Providence, January 5.
“ Last Saturday a flag came from Newport to Warwick
Neck, with letters from Prefcot to General Sullivan ; and
on her return, meeting with a sloop bound up here, laden
with 500 bushels of rye and a quantity of flour (command
ed by two boys, the men having gone aShore) thought
proper to order her for Newport, as it is said. She is
now in Newport.
By their accounts, they have but twelve days bread
and ten days rice and meat; their army consists of 000,
including women and children ; 5462 fighting men among
them."
Mr. DUNLA P,
THE RE are some words which, almost every day of
late, I hear applied in such a manner, as to me is
Scarcely intelligible. Now, Sir, as lam not one of those
zealots, who with to make war upon the English language,
because we are at war with the nation, I Should think it
best to u4e words according to their old meaning ; at least
till lome new fixed meaning can be applied to them.
The word gentleman, for Instance, used to imply some
degree of civility. A certain refinement of manners was
found in the conversation of a gentleman, which always
gave pie lure, if not improvement. I with those, who at
present hold the rank of gentlemen, would give us leave to
preserve the old idea: I wiffi they would Rudy more civi
lity. A rough, overbearing carriage, and a contempt of
their fellowcitizens are accomplishments, which might be
Spared from the character of gentlemen
To argue or dilute used once to import a calm, dispas
sionate exertion of the powers of reason in pursuit of truth.
Now-a-daysit consists of loud, passionate language and in
sulting expressions; such as admit of scarce any other an
swer than the argumentum bacculinum ; and such as, there
is reason to fear, will shortly bring every queffion to be
de ided by that mode of reasoning. Time was when an
argument was not thought to be fortified by insult, and
honest men were not persuaded by being treated as if th,ey
were villains and robbers.
Honour is a word of old Handing in our language.
Honour, I believe, till of late, was ever considered as
comprehending integrity. It was indeed Something more
than integrity; but integrity was ever deemed an essential
part of honour. Lord Clive, for instance, with all his
wealth and fame, did not acquire the character of a man
of honour; because his wealth and fame were built upon
fucc^fnl villainy: He was void ?f integrity. On the wth%
hand, a bare pufiAualffy in paying a man's debts, hcr^
ever it might entitle him to the praise of integrity, gave
him no claim to the rank es a man of honour. Yet the
man, who difeharges a public tru ft with a disinterested
integrity, seems fairly entitled to the chara&er of a man
of honour; because there are so many ways of cheating,
in a public employment, without being easily detected,
that a man must have a foul above taking little, mean ad
vantages, who keeps his hands perfectly clean. The man
who has been entrusted with millions and whose accounts
are fair ; who, when he returns to his employers, can lock
them cheerfully in the face and tell them, " thus honestly
" have I disposed of my trust;" tho' he should remain
poor after all his Services; tho' he might offend the deli
cacy of fops by the plamnefs of his living; yet, in the old
fafhioned sense of the word, that man is a man of honour.
Rather would I be that man, than to be an Ambassador in
Courts of Princes, and be unable, or unwilling, to account
with my employers for the expenditure of a single (til
ling.
In th® article of military honour integrity has been ever
held an essential part. For example; if a man were as
brave as C^far and as accomplished as Sir Philip Sidney ;
yet if he were at the fame timea thief or a cheat, would
the gentlemen of the army call him a man of honour ? Yet,
Sir, of late, I hear persons called men of honour, who
hardly seem even to wish for the reputation of integrity,
fufpett there are amongst us some men, to whom, like
Falftaff, “ honour has come unlooked for," whilst they
were really seeking for wealth and Safety Men (if any
such there are) who have fought public employments for
the fake of commercial projeßs, or with a view, in any
ihape, to fill their pockets, are these men of honour? And,
if at the very moment they were fattening on the Spoils of
the public, they were seeking also protection and Security
from the enemy, either by a half tory conduct or other
wise: are these also men of honour?
There are Several other words, which, in modern use,
appear to me to be rather perverted. Thus I have heard
the public mentioned and the o/inior of the public, when I
knew very well there was nothing more in it, than the
opinion of the Speaker, or writer, and half a dozen of his
acquaintance. Just so. the pee; le is frequently used, to
fignify nothing more, than the company present: that is
to fay, if the company prefect are of one opinion; if not,
tbe peo/leare such of the company present, as are cf opin
ion with the person that uses the exprefficn. 7be better
fort of people is an expression which is frequently used to
fignify such persons as are pleased to concur with us in our
particular Scheme of policy or interest; and the/oic, dirty
fellows are generally those who are opposed to us.
At another day perhaps I may go into feme further re
marks on this fubjea; for these are not the hundredth
part of the instances which might be given. For the pre
sent I mail conclude with assuring you, that if I had time
to Rudy languages, I would learn Dutch and French ; but
to have my own native tongue to learn over again, when
r thought I was pretty well master of it, is cruel ; and the
more so as, at this rate, there is no knowing how often,
or how rapidly, our language may be changed upon us.
Lord have mercy, Sir ! a plain man may not be able to
keep up with it. The word gentleman may in time ceme
to mean a cut-throat, and a man of honour a public plun
derer. Your's,
OLD FASHIO N.
t±l±z£±c±^^^^^^^fb^G*?^^^^^
Just opening and to he fold, win lefale and retail, by
S AM U E L B A I R D,
At the store formerly occupied hy Ms. Devine, its Se
cond ftie.t, near the corner < # f Chenut-ftreet,
BLU E, brown and drab coloured broadcloths ;
green, white and striped coatings; green, white
and crimson baize; white fl nnel; Scarlet serge; black,
yellow, red, blue and green camblets; striped ditto;
drawboys, ribbed callimanco, mafquetadcs, Mcklen
burghs, black hairbine, poplin, woift d flockings,
werfted binding, sewing frk, gauz lice, basket buttons,
gimp, knives .nd forks, razors, desk locks, clock-case
hinges, cork screws, saws. &c. &*.
To be LET for a term of years,
And entered ^n the beginning of Match next,
A PLANTATION lituate in Manington precin&,
" and county of Salem, Wtft-Jerfey, two and a half
miles from the tows of Salem, containing fix hundred
acres of Land, three hundred of whch is improved
meadow, and upwards of one hundred acres cleared up
land, the rest well wooded. There are on the premises
a good dwelling-house, kitchen and dairy-house, and
an excellent well of water near the door, a larre barn in
which are Halls for feeding sixteen oxen, also sundry
sut-boufe#, a fine thriving young bearing orchard of
about three hundred trees of the best kind of grafted
fruit (allowed to be equal if not Superior to any orchard
of the fame number of trees and age in the county )
The place is very Suitable for feeding cattle er for a large
dairy, and ra sing hogs. For terms apply to the sub
scriber in Philadelphia.
Jan. 24. RICHARD WISTAR.
Philadelphia, January 29.
TO BE LE T,
And entered on immediately,
THE large and commodious Wharf and Stores,
situated between Race and Vine-streets, belonging;
to Capt. Walter Goodman, to whom please to apply
for terms.
TOU~R NTYMEN JOINERS are
J wanted by THOMAS BOWEN, Cabinet
maker, in Spruce-ftieet, near the corner of Second
ftreet. Good wages and constant employ will be given
to good workmen.
WHEREAS the fubferiber and his wife
Mary have parted by the consent of the Mayor's
Court held in the city of Philadelphia ; This is there
fore to forewarn ail persons from trusting her on my ac
count, & I will pay no debts of her contrasting aftej
this date.
Jan. 26, 177 ^ ^OHN M'KITTRICK.