The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-12-17 00:00:00, page 2

ruther ADVICES by the [hip Congrefi,
captain Geddes, from I'Orient,
H- A G U E, September 25.
The following is the report of his fereue.highnefs the
prince ftadtholder, to the secret committee of the
hates general
" Noble and Mighty Lords,
<INCE t e return of the feet of the republic into
' the Texel, 1 have omitted nothing which was in.
my power to fend it out again to sea For this pur
pole I repaired to the New Diep the 2d of August last,
in order to be exactly informed of the condition of the
ships, and whether they would immediately go to lea.
The 21st es August I had a conference with the chief
officers, whereat were prefect the counf Hors and mi
^ifters of the admiralty. I cannot refrain from com
municaifog to you the minutes of this conference,
and I refer you to them for their contents. Your
noble migftineffes may thence perceive, among other
things, that a ihip o r the line and four frigates might
fail in a few d;ys ; that eight ships of the,me would
be ready in ten days, and four others a few days as
ter; and that while one frigate is repairing, another
is careening. I have recommended the greatest dis
patch to he exerted in refitting the flops, that nothing
be n,glefied to get them out to sea. Having, t^fides,
learned that divers hritifh ships are cruizing in the
North-seas, I have ordered to be got ready for Dron
tbyim, the Dolphin, the Texel schooner and the Sper
wir cutter, of the Meafe, and to hire as many neu
tral vessels as possible, to carry intelligence of the arri
val of this Rritifh fleet in the North seas, to captain
Gennip, who commands the ships of the republic em
ployed to convoy the Eart India thips expected at
Drontheim; so that he may take suitable measures
for the fafety of the vessels entrusted to hi, care.
Herewith I give you copies of the letters which I sent
on' the 22d ult. to vice-admiral Dedel and captain
Gennep. The ten days being elapsed, since most of
the ships were to be at sea, I wrote to vice-admiral
Hartfink, on theist of this month, which I refer to,
as also hisanfwer of the 2d, my reply of the 3d, and
two dispatches from said admiral of the 4th. You have
copies of all these herewith. On the sth I invited the
Fiscal counfellors Rifcom and Van Derhop, and the
vice-admirals Reynft and Zoutman, to attend roe to
Consult an answer to admiral Hartfink. I annex to
the present. the considerations of these gentlemen, as
also the minute of the message, which I sent to the ad
miral by a courier. The 7th of this month, the cap
tain, count de Welderen, arrived express with a let
ter from admiral Hartfink of the evening before ; a co
py whereof your noble mightinesses will find herewith
annexed to the resolution of the council of war On
receiving this letter, I determined to go to the New-
Diep, to hold a council of war, at which I Should be
present, and to resolve as occurrences should direct for
the bert good of the service.
I dispatched colonel Bentinck with the message to
vice admiral Hartfink, a copy whereof I fend also to
your noble mightinesses. The Bth, I received the let
ter from the admiral, of the 7th, of which a copy is
hereto annexed, in answer to my second message the
evening before. The fame evening I set out, and
having passed across in the nigl^, upon my arrival on
Monday last, I called a council of war at the Heide,
confining of all the superior officers and captains of
the fleet, where was present the councillor Fiscal Van
Derhop, of the college of admiralty of Amflerdam.
I think.it my duty to communicate to your noble
mightinesses the result of this council of war, toge
ther with the opinion of admiral Zoutman thereon.
Your noble mightinesses will thereby find the unani
mous sentiment of all the officers above mentioned. It
went against me to order, against these decided senti
ments, the failing of the fleet, but I believed it right
to direct that all ships which had received wood and
water, should, on the firft order, put to sea, suita
bly provided; and I address myfelf to your noble
mightinesses, with a wish to know the intention of
their high mightinesses as to the departure of the fleet,
and whether, notwithrtanding the unanimous opinion
of the officers, they must fail. Having ordered vice
admiral Hartfink, in presence of the superior officers,
that as food as he should receive certain accounts of
the failing of the English fleet, which is upon these courts,
and also of its return to the channel, so as to be a
ble to calculate that lord Howe shall be gone for Gib
raltar, he (the admiral) shall put to sea without wait,
ing further orders, refering him to my several orders
thereupon, but particularly my letters of the iff, 3d,
6th and 7th of this month.
I hope I have fatisfied the intentions of your no
ble mightinesses; and I am ready to fend forward any
orders you may be pleased to give, having disposed
every thing for to execute them without delay."
Upon which having deliberated, the deputies re
turned their thanks to his highness for the disclosure
he has made. At the fame time it is ordered, that
copies of the papers aforefaid be put into the hands of
messieurs Lynden de Hemmen and the deputies for
maritime affairs, in order that they obtain the confi
derations of the colleges of admiralty thereupon, and
make report thereof; and that it be intimated to the
said colleges, that they immediately fend their com.
mittees to this residence to confer upon this byfinefs
so that they be here on Monday evening next at f ar -'
theft. And the orders provisionally given by his se
rene highness the prince, were unanimously approv
ed, &c.
LISBO N, August 27.
The Noftra figniora de Bon Fim, which had failed
from this for India, is just returned, M. de Buffy hav
ing forced the captain to fell to him his lading at the
cape of Good Hope. By this ship we learn, that in
June last M. de Buffy failed thence for India with z
ships of the line, one of 64 and one of 74 guns; and
that 10 days after 4 frigates and 30 transports arrived
at False bay: in these were embarked 6000 troops,
and that there were 2600 French troops before this ar
rival at the Cape.
Sept. 11. By a vessel from the Cape of Good Hope,
we learn, that 5 fail of the line, belonging to France,
were in April ready to fail thence to join monf. Suf
frein, with a body of troops, so that the French squa
dron in the East-Indies will be reinforced before fir
Richard Bickerton, who left Brazil 3d June only, can
arrive.
L ONDO N, Sept. 12.
Admiral Milbank is returned from the North seas,
with 15 fail of the line, he has performed the service
of impreffiog the Dutch fleet, and keeping them in the
Texel and we hope, that before they get advice of his
quitting the North seas, that our Baltic convoy will
arrive in our ports, with the vast supply of naval flores
with which they are laden. By this manoeuvre our
fleet will be ufeful in a double view, and without aban
doning Gibraltar to the dirtrefs to which it might be
reduced, our Eastland trade, so essential to out mari
tine efforts, may be fecored.
Sept. 24. Saturday last by express from Hull, we
learn that the Baltic fleet had arrived off Flamborough-
Head, confining of near 300 fail. Where have the
Mynheers been Numbering on this occasion ? Where
was their vigilance when they left this great and im-*
portant convoy to pass without moleflation?They might
certainly have intercepted it with the greater ease, at
our fleet under admiral Milbank had left the North
seas before the failing of this fleet from Elfineur. It is
indeed one of those political paradoxes, that puzzles
the most enlightened! Isit possible, the Dutch should
let it pass, in order that no new obflacle might rife to
prevent a peace? How much are we indebted to pro
vidence on this occasion !
Sept. 27. Considering, fays some of our news writers
the immense reinforcements which the French and Dutch
have sent to India, there is every reafen to fear that
we (hall be forced to abandon all that admiral Hughes
has conquered. The incredible number of French land
forces sent to co operate with Hyder Ally, make it ve
ry doubtful whether they will content themselves with
recovering their own poffeflions. We flatter ourselves,
however, that as fir R. Bickerton must have joined ad
miral Hughes by this time, that the two admirals will
be able to hinder the squadron under M. de Buffy,from
landing the troops he carries, on the coast of Corman
del.
The fubfeription for the relief of the widows and or
phans of the crew of the Royal George, lately drown
ed by the overfetting of that ship, exceed 60001. and
is not closed.
OHo. i. There remain more than 6 millions of the
last loan to be paid in during November last.
We have now 18 fail of the line in India under Hughes
and Bickerton ; the greatest which this nation ever sent
to Asia ; i of 84, 5 of 74, 2 of 70, 8 of 64, and 2 of
50 guns.
ORobet 4.
By his majesty's ship, the Jason, arrived at King-
Road, Bristol, from Jamaica, we learn, that the con
voy bound for Great-Britain, amounting to 150 fail,
had left Bluefields 25th of July, under the care of the
Ville de Paris of 104 guns, the Ramifies, Canada, Centaur
and L'HeDor of 74, the Ardent and Caton of 64, and
the Pallasof ytguns. The Jason and Glorieox failed 3
days after the rest with 7 merchantmen. After this
news of this important feet, which we hourly ex pect
to arrive: the merchants, planters and insurers begin
to be uneasy : indeed the nation in general, fearing the
Dutch will ic;zc the opportunity to revenge themselves
for our taints against them for fuffering the Baltic
fleet to escape; winch indeed they could not help, as
we find by the report made by the fladtnolder to their .
high mightinesses
By a Danish vessel arrived from Tranqubar, we
have advice, that the Hannibal of 50 eons, taken by
M. Suffrein, from the squadron under admiral Hughes,
is arrived at the cape of Good-Hope.
The little squadron under commodore Elliot, which
failed the 29th ult. went to refuse its Ration on the
coart of Britanny: it confids of the Romney of 50
guns, the Mediator of 44, the Prudent of 36, and the
Euridice of 36.
This day the Standard man of war, of 64 guns, is tol
be launched at Deptford; and the Scipio, or like r^te, I
will be launched from the fame yard oh the 2zd inl
ftant.
The Carnatick of 74, and the Dictator of 64 guns, |
which are building at yards on the Thames, will be 1
launched in the course of this month.
Three ships of the line and four frigates are building 1
at Burflem, near to Southampton, and will be foon|
ready to put into the water.
Oft. 8. The Thetis, capt. Major, dneof the Jamai-|
ca convoy, is arrived at Bristol, having on board the 1
crew of the Withy-Wood, another of the fleet boundl
for London, which has foundered. Captain Edwards,j
who commanded her gives, by letter of the 3d in.
ftant, from Bristol, the following account of his ship.
wreck.—
" The 16th of last month, being in lab 42, 50 : long,
weft 50, we were met wit'hby a moil violent gust of
wind from S. E. by E. which suddenly veered to
N. W. and blew so violently, during four hour-, that
in my whole life I never was in such danger. The sea
from 3 E. was so high, that the ship laboured greatly,
the counter was stove in and the gun-room laid open.
The water came in so plentifully, that ail my pumps
could not keep it under. I cut away the main and
mizen marts, and got the ship before the wind; in
short, I did all that a seaman could do to save the
vessel; but the water gained upon us so faft, that in
6 hours we had 6 feet water in the hold. As it was yet
clear weather, we threw every thing overboard out of
the gun room, and Raved all the rum we could, but
all in vain ; at ten o'clock we left the ship and got on
board the Thetis. We are happy to have saved our
lives, not having had above two hours of weather so
moderate as to pass in the boats. Next morning we
difeovered about 30 fail of vessels, the four nearert of
which were difmafted ; the rest were at a great dist
ance."
The London Gazette of the 3d inffant, Contains a
proclamation to prorogue the parliament till the 26th
of November, then to be holden for the dispatch of
important business.
And an account of the holding of a chapter of the
most noble order of the garter, at which were prefect
the sovereign, prince of Wales, dukes of Grafton,
Marlborough. Cumberland and Northumberland, the
usher of the black-rod, herald at arms, &c. The duke
of Rutland was elected and inflalled as a knight, and
the bishop of Salisbury admitted to take the oath as
chancellor of the order.
An express dispatched from Dover has brought, on
Sunday last, the news of th fe arrival, off that port,,
of the Jamaica Planter, captain Hay, and the Mary
Ann, captain Innis, vessels of the Jamaica fleet. The
4th iortant they spoke with the following vessels,
which make part of the fame fleet, viz. the Salt-River,
the Charming Molly, the Hibberts, the Lady Taylor,
and the Nancy, bound for London : and theist in
flant they also fell in with the Jamaica and the Hope,
bound for Bristol, and the Minerva for Glasgow. We
learn by these vessels, that the Dutton, a vessel be
longing to the India company, and the Sarah, have
foundered, and that 19 men, par# of the crew of the
Dutton, have been saved by the Salt-River. They re
port alfo,that they saw 6 other vessels making signals of
distress the next day after the storm ; and the Ramiliea
of 74 guns, in which admiral Graves was embarked,
had loft her mainmast, foremaft and rudder, and the
Glorieux her foremaft and bowsprit.
His majesty's ship the Pegasus, has already failed
to fuccour the disabled vessels, which have been dif
mafled upon the banksof Newfoundland. The Europe,
of 64 guns, and the Cato of 58 have orders to put to
sea immediately to go to their assistance. The Centaur
and Ramifies have received such considerable damages
in the storm, that it appears very doubtful whether
they will be able to return home: these two vessels
have been difmarted and toft their rudders.
BO S T O N, November 25.
We are informed, that while the general court was
fitting, and in the mid^ of very important business, a pe
tition was presented by \ r% William Burgess, lately
from, and a citizen o' London, praying to be naturaliz
ed. The petition came properly before the legislature,
as a law must have been made for the purpose, if the
prayer of the petition had been granted. The house
of representatives appointed a committee, with such
as the senate might join, to confider the matter; but
they oon-concurred the vote of the house, and declined
to sustain the petition. A few days after, the go
vernor received and laid before the general court a re
solution of congress strongly recommending to the
Rates, not to admit any British fubjefts whatever.
This was thought by many to be a fufficient bar a
gainst any farther application of Mr. Eurgefs on the
(object ; yet he has since found means to prevail on
the assembly to permit him to write or apply in per
son to congrefe, to have it there decided whether he
comes within the meaning of their resolution; and it is
said he will shortly set off for Philadelphia, 'it is pre
sumed that tee general court stand perfectly indiffer
ent with regard to the question which Mr. Burgess
proposes to lay before congress: and should it be de
cided according to his wish, it is also presumed they
will be altogether uninfluenced by such decision if a
petition should again come before them for his Natu
ralization.-- Can their be any weighty reason for ad
mitting at this juncture (to use the expression of con
gress) any British fubjeß whatever? That body have
without doubt, some forceabfe objtaions, or they would
not have not so earnertly cautioned us against it. We
ought to be on our guard —Britain has changed her
system—and the citizens of America are, as they al
ways have been; fu more danger of being (educed by
her arts, than bullied by her threats, or subjugated by
the power of her arms.
Dec. 5. By a vessel arrived at a, neighbouring port
from Marthiico, which left that island the eighth of
November, we have tire very pleasing account, that oni
tie 6th of that month the marquis de Bouille arrived
there with a number of ships of the line, and 12,003
t roops. This event has diffu ed great joy through the
dominions of our illuArious ally in that quarter.
Tuesday arrived here (cloathed with the laurels of
Y ork-Towo) the firft division of the French army, and
yerterday arrived the second ; the third are expeded
this day, and to morrow the fourth.
Ex rad of a letter, dated London, September 27.
“ Wr are informed, .that Charleftown is soon to be
evacuated ; fuco times as the present, it behoves peo
peio bufinHs to aft with great caution; if a peace
should not be concluded in the course of a few months
we are of opinion the war will continue several years ;
before three months are at an end, we shall be better
able to julge."
OF the proportion of monies required by congress
fr ni fid commonwealth for defraying the charges of
carrying on the war this present ye„, I have received
of Thomas Ivers esquire, treasurer.
In tie month of July 15000 Dollars.
In the menih of August 14001 47-72
In te month of September 10338 33 72.
In the month of Oflober 6944 29-72.
In the mont^ of November 6372 16-72.
JAMES LOVELL, Receiver of continental
taxes for Maffachufetta.
BRISTO L, ODober 2.
The Tobago Planter is just arrived from Jamaica ;
she failed with the fleet on the 16th of last month: they
were assaulted by a violent gust of wind, in lat. 43,
'long. 48 : next day at 9 , A. M. they spoke the Ra
milies, admiral Graves, which had loft her main and
mizen marts ; and they saw abundance of ships in like
condition, all more or less difmafted; afterwards she
passed by a great quantity of punciieous and cafks,baga
of cotton, marts, Campeachy wood, &c. floating on
the furface of the ocean, The Ardent man of war had
sprung aleak, and returned to Port-Royal in Jamaica.